On one of my blog posts, where I shared a "Flash Fiction" piece, a commenter had mentioned that I had "a voice". I can't tell you how thrilled I was with that revelation! I kept saying to myself, over and over: "I have a voice! I have a voice!" as if I had received the greatest gift in the world.
Writer's Voice, according to 'About.com' is defined as: "the author's style, the quality which makes his or her writing unique, and which conveys the author's attitude, personality and character."
Here is an excerpt of the piece from my blog post:
Too Close for Comfort
"Hyperventilating because of my near death experience, I leaned against the rusty remains of a concrete bridge, thankful to be alive. Miraculously, I had only a cut on my leg. Becky, my best friend, had rescued me again. But this time. it wasn't from a social faux pas. And she had only wet hair to show for the feat...."
I am just beginning to see what she meant, as I continue my writing career. Here is the link to the post for the rest of the story.
These famous writers below have obvious Voice. Can you guess the author of each of these excerpts below (the answers are at the bottom of this post)?
A
Take these again; for to the noble mind
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.
B
There was no time for play.
This was no time for fun.
This was no time for games.
There was work to be done.
This was no time for fun.
This was no time for games.
There was work to be done.
All that deep,
Deep, deep snow,
All that snow had to go.
When our mother went
Down to the town for the day,
She said, "somebody has to
Clean all this away.
Somebody, SOMEBODY
Has to, you see."
Somebody, SOMEBODY
Has to, you see."
Then she picked out two Somebodies.
Sally and me.
C
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
D
"Is he—quite safe?"
[...]
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver [...] "Who said anything about safe?
[...]
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver [...] "Who said anything about safe?
'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
Here are some links to books and websites about Writer's Voice:
What is Writer's Voice?
Three Ways to Spark Literary Magic-Voice Part 2
"Finding Your Voice: How to Put Personality in Your Writing" by Lee Edgerton
Answers:
Answers:
A Shakespeare's "Hamlet": Scene 3 Act 1
B "The Cat and the Hat Comes Back" by Dr. Seuss
C The Apostle Paul: Romans 6:1,2
D "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis Ch. 8
Do you have a voice? Can you give me another example of an author who has an obvious writer's voice?
