Oh, voice. We hear so much about voice in all the advice offered up by agents and publishers and other industry professionals. And it's one of those potentially scary things about writing, because voice is not one of the technical aspects of writing you can practice at. Voice is partially your characters and partially your overall style as a writer. I think voice is one of the more hard to pin down qualities of writing, and it's a bit different for each story.
Those of you who know me well might recall that I wrote a novella for my son last year, a middle grade fantasy. It was something I wrote for fun, and he had a blast getting to give me input and direct in some ways where the story went. I struggled between a middle grade voice and a young adult voice with that one, and I'm finding the same issue with the book I'm writing now. I intended for it to be middle grade, but it just seems to have a more serious voice than a middle grade book.
I've written about 35 pages so far, and decided that I'm just going to let the story flow out, and then worry about it later. At least for me, if I try to analyze and correct too much in a first draft, it just won't come forth. So, I'm going to let the muse of this story do her thing, and think about possibly aging up my characters later.
On a side note, my son is still loving reading the chapters when I'm done, and often ends with a big grin on his face. It's fantastic. On a second side note, no new query news.
So, anyone else writing a first draft now? Do you always have ease with voice, or is it sometimes elusive?
Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!
I usually need to have a solid feel for the narrator's voice before I can write, but sometimes I struggle a little with getting that voice "set."
ReplyDeleteJust let it flow! Yes, I am working on the first draft of my third book. At the moment I am writing it in a notebook and may switch to the computer later. I've learned to just get the basics down and go back and add personality - my voice - later.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably not the best advice either. It just works for me.
I agree with Alex, just let the story flow and then label it afterward. Sometimes your story will take its own life and the voice will be something you don't expect. As a pantser, I like it that way!
ReplyDeleteI'm writing a first draft now and simultaneously loving and hating it. As usual, voice is hard to pin down. It usually takes me until page 50 or 60 before I start to get a sense of the voice. I've never been one of those writers who "hears" the voice of a character in her head. Not yet anyway. I don't even have a clue what they look like at first. I think it's best just to keep writing and by the end, you'll have an idea of what it should be and you can fix it in revision.
ReplyDeleteI am always writing some form of a first draft. For the most part I write in omniscient so voice has always been the easiest thing for me - after all, it is *my* voice! (The perks of writing in omniscient in which the author is the narrator, ha!) I've also always gotten high comments on my voice from readers. When I was younger it didn't mean much to me but it does now when I see these topics come up. You're right, it's not something that can be just taught.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I agree with just going with the flow. I do this in my non-omniscient stories as well. The hardest part is making sure that all the voices aren't too similar!
I'm not first drafting right now, but I know what you mean. Over-analyzing and correcting is the problem I've been having with this round of edits. But I slapped myself around yesterday, and I think I'm over it. (At least for now.)
ReplyDeleteAs for Voice, I've had some people tell me they love mine but I've never quite understood it. I know I have one voice for my suspense and another for this urban fantasy - and sometimes I have a tough time keeping them separate. Here's hoping the people who loved my suspense voice love my UF voice, too.
I'm exactly the same as Alex J above - I've been adding in the voice and personality now on my final draft. But I work differently as I start off with bare bones and flesh things out later.
ReplyDeleteI usually feel like voice is easier than plot for me, until I read someone that has a really GREAT voice, and then I curl into fetal position. LOL - I do think have a command of a character's backstory helps tremendously with voice.
ReplyDeleteI start with the mc's voice before I know where the story's going, which is a whole different problem! Right now I'm a 15-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl depending on which one I'm working on. :)
ReplyDeleteerica
I'm working on a first draft for a new novel titled Flocked. It is in the first person, and my first attempt ever to write in first person. For me, this is intimidating - it puts me precisely in the soul of my character, and though she is like me in some ways, in others, not at all. Yet I need to delve into her thoughts and feelings and voice them. This is exciting and a bit naughty, I'll admit. Nelly does things I'd never do, and I'm only lately opening up enough to let her do her thing with impunity, and for the author - me - not to hold her back.
ReplyDeleteOh, and speaking of voice - my friend Jodie recently was guest speaker on a blog discussing voice: http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/guest-blogger-jodie-renner-pov-101-get-into-your-protagonists-head-and-stay-there-for-most-of-your-story/
ReplyDeleteI'm having fun writing a first person narrative. When I write this way, the words only flow when I have them firmly in mind. I keep my inspirations board well stocked with images.
ReplyDeleteAh! That elusive 'Voice' I have first drafts done on two current works but still looking for that elusive factor.
ReplyDeleteAh, voice! Sometimes it just comes so naturally, but so often it's schizophrenic! I always have to revise it a million times. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLetting the story flow of it's own for the first draft is a fantastic way to get it on paper and let it have a life of it's own.. you can fix things up later... :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome that your son is loving it so much! That has to feel great. :) Definitely, yes, good idea to let it flow at this point and worry about the voice later. Sometimes it can develop AS you write, so it's good not to hinder that. Just listen to the characters and the story. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think my voice purposely plays hide and seek with me! :)
ReplyDeleteI like what your doing with your son!!
It's neat to include your son. That's awesome! I started with MG myself, but soon found my real passion was YA. I was better with the YA voice. So don't stifle yourself, go with what works.
ReplyDeleteI've always heard to write the first draft without stressing and then revise, revise, revise. Of course, I can't seem to do that for myself.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with voice as well, some days I have it down, and I miss the mark on others.
Very cool that you are writing a novel with/for your son.
I too am having the same issues, Alexia. I am writing the first draft of a book that I thought would be for the older MG group, but as I am writing its falling under the YA age group. I have decided to let the story flow before I worry about other things.
ReplyDeleteVoice comes with writing, writing, writing. It's innately you as the writer. Letting the words flow will help you develop it. Reading aloud can also help.
ReplyDelete