About Voice

Post 1678:

Reading a book about writing is sort of an interesting thing to do. Some give great advice, others terrible, yet none are as good as books that aren’t about writing. You know, ones that just have writing. Every time you read a novel or nonfiction book, you’re subjecting yourself to another’s voice, style, wit, ability, or lack thereof.

This is a great education and window into your own soul, a way to understand the voice that you can offer the page.

Tone, voice and style can sometimes get confused for each other. Frankly, I don’t care about exact definitions. I’ll try to explain.

I’ve written seven or eight manuscripts and published five novels. None have the same type of characters. They’re all in different genres. Some are serious, some more satirical or comedic. But if I’m being objective, they all have my voice. I can try to make it better or more versatile, but I’m in there underneath the characters and the style and the plot.

You have the voice God gave, but it doesn’t mean you can’t exercise it. I’ve literally been singing for my supper for years and I’ve seen people with crazy range crap out while people with limited ability make the most. Ability is great, but limitations define us, yada, etc.

Say what you want, man. The way you want to. After that, make it better and do the self-recriminations. Plenty of time for that. Let me hear. Cheers and see you after.