I've just finished leading a writing retreat in beautiful Phuket Thailand and am buzzing from the high
that hanging out with fellow authors always leaves. On day one we talked about the start of the journey towards finding your author voice. As we opened with an exercise where participants interviewed and introduced each other, one writer introduced another by saying, "Her inner artist is very protective of her own blank canvass." It was the beginning of the shedding of egos, the recognition that to be a writer you have to say 'I'm a writer!' very loud and very clear and... then just get down to the business of writing, which is the only way to actually discover the author voice that is inside you.
You hear
so many literary critics, book reviewers and lecturers say that every author
has a unique ‘voice’ but what exactly does that mean?
The more
you read, and start to pay attention to the different nuances of different
writers, the clearer this becomes as you start to notice a particular author’s
thematic preferences, tone and point of view. The more you write and test
different styles, the more comfortable you’ll start to feel as your true voice
begins to take form.
In
Nathan Bransford’s How to Write a Novel
he talks about the author’s voice as having a personality of its own with a
unique way of seeing the world. For example, he says…
“JK Rowlings conveys a cheerfully magical
tone using key details, such as the personalities of the moving paintings in
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
Bransford outlines the essential elements that define an
author’s voice:
- A distinct
Style – the
true essence of the author’s voice in a novel is its unique style
- A personality of its own – a unique way of seeing the world
- Consistency – the voice stays strong
throughout the novel
- Moderation – don’t overdo it!
- Immersiveness – a good voice envelops the
reader within the world of the book.
- Authority – confident and unwavering
- Originality
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| The Royal Embassy Resort in Kamala Beach, home of the annual retreat |
So, ask yourself these questions:
Is my writing
wordy or poetic with lots of similes and metaphors?
Do I use
sparse language with short sentences?
Does it
flow with a stylish and magical tone?
Is it wry
and gritty?
Can my
writing come across as witty and funny?
Where does your strongest literary muscle show?
Are you
adept a writing dialogue and descriptions?
Do you
have a knack for building tension?
Can you
effectively weave in humour?
Do you
tie your writing into time and place?
Is your
world totally invented?
Is there
always an underlying theme?
Are your
stories plot-driven or character-driven?
What is your tone of voice?
Light-hearted
Deep and broody
Cynical
or Sarcastic
Take a
minute to contemplate how your writing comes across. Describe it in a few short
phrases or sentences. If you’re just beginning to explore your ‘voice’ what do
your strive for? What are the characteristics of your favorite writers?
Great examples abound! Read the masters. Read your favorite genres and just keep writing!
Have you found your author's voice?
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If you’d like to receive my newsletter, book launch announcements or information on upcoming writing retreats, go ahead and sign up for my newsletter. When you sign up you’ll also receive a free copy of my ebook, 10 Steps to a Successful PR Campaign – a Do-it-Yourself Guide for Authors.
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