Voice
Last night, I shared with two friends two different pieces of writing I am contemplating working on. The pages I gave my friends are little more than 15 pages of one, 5 or 6 of another. What struck me is that you would never know in a million years the same person wrote them. They asbolutely bear no resemblance to each other.
One, a coming-of-age late-YA set in a mob family, is my voice. It tumbles out of me. It's me. Not my exerpiences, but bits and pieces of stories and fragments, but it just spills out of me--I can write ten pages in an hour without blinking, without trying even. The voice is my own. Me. I can't explain it, but me.
The other, also a late-YA is mine--but me pretending to be her. Until I AM her, but she is not me. That's what it is. She's not separate from me, but instead I'm her writing the book. Some people call it channeling a voice. I call it the Method technique--much like inhabiting a part on the stage.
But here's the thing . . . both voices are in some way very honest, I think. It's not about inventing a world for me, but instead BEING in that world and writing about it, if that makes any sense. I am not separate from it, but in it, living the voice in my head.
So the other day, I got one of those writer newsletters in my email box. The writer was well-known and I started reading the excerpt, and then stopped. And it wasn't the hook, it wasn't the setting. It wasn't the opening line. It was the honesty or the voice. I didn't believe it.
I can describe my process here. I can explain how yes, I can write 20 books across four genres, branch into YA, and have every voice be different. And yet still mine. But I can't tell someone else how to do it. I just know that this is the best way I to describe what it's like for me. And I just know if you can't establish a unique voice, you might as well pack your toys up and get out of the sandbox.
Thoughts?
One, a coming-of-age late-YA set in a mob family, is my voice. It tumbles out of me. It's me. Not my exerpiences, but bits and pieces of stories and fragments, but it just spills out of me--I can write ten pages in an hour without blinking, without trying even. The voice is my own. Me. I can't explain it, but me.
The other, also a late-YA is mine--but me pretending to be her. Until I AM her, but she is not me. That's what it is. She's not separate from me, but instead I'm her writing the book. Some people call it channeling a voice. I call it the Method technique--much like inhabiting a part on the stage.
But here's the thing . . . both voices are in some way very honest, I think. It's not about inventing a world for me, but instead BEING in that world and writing about it, if that makes any sense. I am not separate from it, but in it, living the voice in my head.
So the other day, I got one of those writer newsletters in my email box. The writer was well-known and I started reading the excerpt, and then stopped. And it wasn't the hook, it wasn't the setting. It wasn't the opening line. It was the honesty or the voice. I didn't believe it.
I can describe my process here. I can explain how yes, I can write 20 books across four genres, branch into YA, and have every voice be different. And yet still mine. But I can't tell someone else how to do it. I just know that this is the best way I to describe what it's like for me. And I just know if you can't establish a unique voice, you might as well pack your toys up and get out of the sandbox.
Thoughts?
Labels: voice
posted by Erica Orloff at 8:38 AM
16 Comments:
I have a couple of voices - an edgy YA one and a light MG fantasy one. Then there's the poetry which I haven't written in a long time. Totally different.
But I understand about writing in a different person's voice. And you really can't describe it.
My voice is me and an amalgam of every book I've ever read and that's a lot of books.
Sarah:
Should you be shopping for a dress? Or buying rice to throw? :-)
And yes, we bring all of ourselves to it. It's so hard to describe . . . .
E
*sigh* I have to say, I get really irritated at those writing advisors who say that an author has only One True Voice, and no more.
It's just not true. And they say that like if you're any writer worth her salt, then you have found your One True Voice.
I say Bollocks. It's true some actors can only play one part. But any actor worth her salt can play many different characters.
Imo, same with writers. If the writer can do only one voice and it's an awesome one, cool. But it doesn't make her a better writer than one who is versatile.
Spy:
Well said. I have nothing more to add and can shut down my blog now. LOL!!!!
E
Erica, you've managed to explain something that many people have a hard time defining. You and Spy give me hope because my wips are very different and I keep worrying the voices are too similar. Now I can rest assured it's possible for one person to create different characters yet still keep it honest.
Sheesh, no you can't! Don't even say that! What would I do without reading your writing thoughts every morning? They always make me think.
Makes complete sense to me. My blog voice is different from my nonfiction voice, which is quite different from my first-person fiction voice, although my nonfiction voice may be close to my third-person fiction voice, such as they all are.
Hi Melanie:
Ultimately, say, my comedy voices are similar. Snarky, headstrong--but there's always a uniqueness to them, I think.
E
Spy:
There are a few hard and fast things I hold to . . . but I egenrally feel most writing advisors should shut up regarding prounouncements of "one way" to do things.
E
Mark:
My blog voice is most similar to Cassie Hayes or Lily . . . because they were most like me. But my voice changes as a writer while ME . . . I'm still here. :-)
E
4-5pm pacific time, this Friday, our house. Only need flowers and to pick which friend to do photos.
A little cyber rice and seed for my friends. I'm partial to the dark purple and dark blue flowers.
Sarah:
I will light a white candle at 4:00 PST on Friday and mentally toss some seed!!!!
I am so happy for you. Post a picture on your blog when you can. Wish your wife a happy wedding from all of us here.
E
Hi Erica
As always, you make me think. I love your blog.
Oops! That anonymous poster was me. FF from EHQ.
Hi FF:
Hope you are having a good trip!
:-)
E
I think my voices for the two diff genres I write are somewhat difference. Probably because there isn't a lot of goofy comedy and weird sarcasm in the erotica.
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