Writing Excuses 18.49: Giving Your Story A Voice
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Dec 3, 2023 The hosts discuss the concept of 'voice' in writing and its manifestations, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's personal voice. They explore character voice and the influence of background, discussing the challenges of writing accents in fiction. They delve into the power of voice in storytelling, examining code switching and the role of voice techniques. They also provide techniques for incorporating a different aesthetic voice into your writing.
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Voice is Ambiguous
- "Voice" in writing can be ambiguous, referring to mechanics, aesthetics, or personal style.
- It's crucial to understand these distinct aspects to effectively utilize voice.
Three Aspects of Voice
- Mary Robinette Kowal defines voice as mechanical, aesthetic, and personal, using puppetry as an analogy.
- Mechanical voice refers to narrative style, aesthetic to the "sound" of prose, and personal to the author's unique imprint.
Transparent Prose
- Mary Robinette Kowal explains how "transparent" prose simply means mainstream or fashionable for the time.
- Jane Austen's prose was considered transparent in her era.