On one of my blog posts, where I shared a “Flash Fiction” piece, a commenter had mentioned that I had “a voice”. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was with that revelation! I kept saying to myself, over and over: “I have a voice! I have a voice!” as if I had received the greatest gift in the world.
Writer’s Voice, according to ‘About.com’ is defined as: “the author’s style, the quality which makes his or her writing unique, and which conveys the author’s attitude, personality and character.”
Here is an excerpt of the piece from my flash fiction blog post:
Too Close for Comfort
“Hyperventilating because of my near death experience, I leaned against the rusty remains of a concrete bridge, thankful to be alive. Miraculously, I had only a cut on my leg. Becky, my best friend, had rescued me again. But this time. it wasn’t from a social faux pas. And she had only wet hair to show for the feat….”
I am just beginning to see what she meant, as I continue my writing career. Here is the link to the post for the rest of the story.
These famous writers have a memorable voice. Can you guess the author of each of these excerpts below (the answers are at the bottom of this post)?
A
Take these again; for to the noble mind
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.
B
This was no time for fun.
This was no time for games.
There was work to be done.
All that deep,
Deep, deep snow,
All that snow had to go.
C
D
[…]
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver […] “Who said anything about safe?
Here are some links to books and websites about Writer’s Voice:
D “The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis Ch. 8
I am proud of myself! I guessed all but the Dr. Seuss one! lol I thought the first one was Shakespeare, I knew the third one was from the New Testament, and I recognized the last one as being from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
I do wonder if I have a writer’s voice. I think that weighs on a lot of writers’ minds.
Good for you, Brenda! I think the more we write, the more we develop our voice.