Writing voice is such a hard topic to tackle! I had teachers in high school and college tell me my writing had "good voice," but that was for more formal types of writing (essays, research papers, etc.). When I started doing creative writing, I wondered if that voice would carry over or if there would be a different voice that emerged. I do think there's voice to my writing, but it's so hard to see it yourself. It's kind of like judging your own appearance. You're going to see flaws and blemishes (real or imagined) that no one else is going to notice. They're just going to see you.
It is like judging your own appearance, that's a good way of looking at it. Or listening to your actual voice on tape, it doesn't really sound like you think it does, but whatever the case, it's there and I think it gets louder as you get more sure of yourself as a writer 🙂
Voice is so intangible, yet so important. I think you're right to trust it will emerge, slowly but surely, by writing a lot. An editor once told me she read my piece blind, but was very sure it was mine. That's the closest I've got to believing I have a voice.
From reading your work, you've got a voice! I think it's possible that we can't necesarily hear our own or notice it as much as other people can. Hayley often points things out in other people's writing that she things sounds like something I would say. Not sure if that's voice exactly, but maybe it's along those lines. Whatever the case, I think it's one of those things we don't have a lot of control over, frustratingly!
It seems like that's just the way it is with voice doesn't it?. It eventually joins you, once you've written enough, and sometimes you don't even notice it's arrived :)
what if you don't like the sound of your voice? What then? After you've found it and it's developed and you realize, my god, do I really sound like that?
If that's the position you're in right now, I'd try some analysis. Read some of your writing back and try to hone in on the very specific parts of your voice that you don't like and figure out why. The voice, to me, is made up of preferences as well as natural compulsions and subconscious actions, and you absolutely have a say over some of it. It may be that the more you write, the more you can scuplt your voice into something that you like. It all depends how long you've been going, and what stage of you're writing you're at etc. If you're still fairly new, there's lots of room for change and growth, if you're more experienced, you might jus tneed to give it a little intentional change here and there.
Your voice is what's left after you've shed your bad habits. It's the bad habits that weaken a writer's voice, I think, rather than lack of passion. Your readers can't see your story except through the lens of your style. Most bad writing comes from trying to spice up the story by grinding the lens until it distorts everything. I'm thinking particularly of clumsy attempts to manipulate the reader's emotions through purple prose or over-reliance on breezy sarcasm. Or *ugh* lazy pop culture references.
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Writing voice is such a hard topic to tackle! I had teachers in high school and college tell me my writing had "good voice," but that was for more formal types of writing (essays, research papers, etc.). When I started doing creative writing, I wondered if that voice would carry over or if there would be a different voice that emerged. I do think there's voice to my writing, but it's so hard to see it yourself. It's kind of like judging your own appearance. You're going to see flaws and blemishes (real or imagined) that no one else is going to notice. They're just going to see you.
It is like judging your own appearance, that's a good way of looking at it. Or listening to your actual voice on tape, it doesn't really sound like you think it does, but whatever the case, it's there and I think it gets louder as you get more sure of yourself as a writer 🙂
Voice is so intangible, yet so important. I think you're right to trust it will emerge, slowly but surely, by writing a lot. An editor once told me she read my piece blind, but was very sure it was mine. That's the closest I've got to believing I have a voice.
From reading your work, you've got a voice! I think it's possible that we can't necesarily hear our own or notice it as much as other people can. Hayley often points things out in other people's writing that she things sounds like something I would say. Not sure if that's voice exactly, but maybe it's along those lines. Whatever the case, I think it's one of those things we don't have a lot of control over, frustratingly!
@@KierenWestwoodWriting I agree. I think it develops almost completely on its own. All we do is write the words and let the voice write itself.
I didn't realise I had a voice until years later with readers telling me so! Now I kinda lean into it!
It seems like that's just the way it is with voice doesn't it?. It eventually joins you, once you've written enough, and sometimes you don't even notice it's arrived :)
Love the sweatshirt, solid advice.
Thank you
Thank you! Appreciate you watching ☺️
Finally! Always wanted to get the first comment on your videos.
(Great video by the way. Helped a lot👍.)
Ya got it 🙂 Thanks mate!
Very well explained. 👏 thank you
Thanks Tania! ☺️
Thanks!
what if you don't like the sound of your voice? What then? After you've found it and it's developed and you realize, my god, do I really sound like that?
If that's the position you're in right now, I'd try some analysis. Read some of your writing back and try to hone in on the very specific parts of your voice that you don't like and figure out why.
The voice, to me, is made up of preferences as well as natural compulsions and subconscious actions, and you absolutely have a say over some of it. It may be that the more you write, the more you can scuplt your voice into something that you like.
It all depends how long you've been going, and what stage of you're writing you're at etc. If you're still fairly new, there's lots of room for change and growth, if you're more experienced, you might jus tneed to give it a little intentional change here and there.
Relax and be yourself. It’s good enough.
Your voice is what's left after you've shed your bad habits. It's the bad habits that weaken a writer's voice, I think, rather than lack of passion.
Your readers can't see your story except through the lens of your style. Most bad writing comes from trying to spice up the story by grinding the lens until it distorts everything. I'm thinking particularly of clumsy attempts to manipulate the reader's emotions through purple prose or over-reliance on breezy sarcasm. Or *ugh* lazy pop culture references.
Very much agree about purple prose. I often see that being used to try and mask a lack of confidence, especially in newer writers.
The first paragraph is right on.
**There is another one inside you####