Comments on: Voice: How do you find yours?

By: Vanessa Barneveld

Vanessa Barneveld — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:20:26 +0000

Excellent post, Cynthia. I so agree that voice is something that comes from within — it’s part of you and can’t be taught. When I first started writing, I imitated others’ voices (Hello, Jenny Crusie!) until I eventually I found my own way.

By: Vanessa Barneveld

Vanessa Barneveld — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:16:30 +0000

I love Johnny Cash’s version of U2′s ‘One’, Tammy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQIrxhNkiAs

By: Darynda Jones

Darynda Jones — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:06:23 +0000

LOL, thank you, luv!

By: Gwynlyn MacKenzie

Gwynlyn MacKenzie — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:30:08 +0000

Sorry so late, doll. Doc day.

I’ve been told I have a strong voice. Singing, yeah, but anyone can be taught to project. Writing? You couldn’t prove it by me, but I guess it’s one of those everybody sees the resemblance but the person doing the resembling things.

Thus, it’s a good thing I love history because my writing voice tends toward formal (so does my speaking voice, to a degree—apples/trees, you know.) Writing within the realm of the peerage is a natural fit. Which presented a dilemma with the Sci-Fi stories—at first. A little innovation (mostly following my own instincts), and VOILA!

By: Nancy Holland

Nancy Holland — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:57:46 +0000

What’s weird for me is that my non-fiction writing voice is so much like my fiction voice. (Hmmm. Maybe that’s why I’m not published in fiction. . .) Even weireder is that I recently reread a non-fiction piece I published in college, eons ago, and it was the same voice. So when people talk about finding their voice, I’m like “Huh?” Guess everyone’s different.

By: Nancy Holland

Nancy Holland — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:46:08 +0000

Oh, yes!

By: Diana Layne

Diana Layne — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:56:25 +0000

This is so cool. Since I’m a pianist, I can really relate to this as music can be interpreted in so many different ways. Actually, though, to liven up my classical songs I had to practice over and over I used to make up stories to go with them. It actually made me play them with more feeling. Getting off subject, though, this was a really good example!

By: Tamara Hogan

Tamara Hogan — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:21:58 +0000

k.d. lang for the win!

By: Kat Cantrell

Kat Cantrell — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:42:27 +0000

That’s not a non-answer, it’s a great response and makes sense besides. I agree, I think voice almost has to come out in the first draft. You can refine it, sure, but the roots are there.

By: Hope Ramsay

Hope Ramsay — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:27:23 +0000

Amy,

I had a similar experience, when I tried to write something funny set in the South. And then batta, boom, this VOICE was there. Like it had been lurking just waiting to come out.

I’d always had a strong writing voice. But this was different. This was something really alive that came from out of nowhere.