First Sunday Q &A: Voice! Repeating Themes in Your Writing--How They Foster Your Unique Voice
What reappears in your writing? What are you fascinated with and can't let alone? How do you become conscious of these themes and use them deliberately?
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Q: I’ve been reading for years about voice, both the voice of characters and the voice of the writer. I’d love any tips or suggestions about how I might develop my writer’s voice. I feel I have good skills for writing individual character voices but no clue as to how I might develop my personal narrative voice. I’ve written quite a lot, published some, but the whole issue of voice confuses me. Thank you.
A: Voice in writing is the signature tone that engages a reader. Yet how to nurture and develop your writing voice is one of the big mysteries writers face. Some imagine it’s a magical thing that just appears one day, after we’ve put in enough hours. It is magical, but like many things that have a magical quality, it can also be approached deliberately, and grown carefully, if you become aware of how it works.
I love reading certain writers for their voice. I’ve dissected books and essays and short stories to find out why the voice of these writers is so distinguishable.
To me, voice rides hand-in-hand with the prominent themes that emerge in our writing. So this post will discuss the elements in a writer’s voice and how to develop them.
The first, and most obvious, element of voice is the writer’s unique style of writing. The second is the repeating themes that show up in our work, over and over. The stuff we’re passionate about, that won’t leave us alone.
Let’s talk about writing style first.
Writing style
Do you know your writing style? Each of us has a certain way of using words. We favor terse or lyrical. We use words in minimalist or abundant ways. We are attracted to action or description.