Whose Voice Is It Anyway?
Something that came up during the Saturday meeting, and it was really just a small hiccup in the speaker's presentation, was the issue of Voice.
Not just the writer's voice, but the writer's voice in relation to the character's voice.
Our characters are each unique in our heads, but when we're writing them, do they sound like us? Are they distinct in their mannerisms, thoughts, word usages, and point of views? The voice (or style) of our writing will come through, especially if it's strong, but we need to make sure it doesn't overshadow our characters.
I really appreciated the conversation and everyones' input as this is something I've wondered about and hoped I didn't do.
Have you encountered this in your manuscripts? Your voice superimposing itself onto the characters? What about books? Ever read one where everyone sounded the same?
Not just the writer's voice, but the writer's voice in relation to the character's voice.
Our characters are each unique in our heads, but when we're writing them, do they sound like us? Are they distinct in their mannerisms, thoughts, word usages, and point of views? The voice (or style) of our writing will come through, especially if it's strong, but we need to make sure it doesn't overshadow our characters.
I really appreciated the conversation and everyones' input as this is something I've wondered about and hoped I didn't do.
Have you encountered this in your manuscripts? Your voice superimposing itself onto the characters? What about books? Ever read one where everyone sounded the same?
Comments
Still trying to master this one.
I think where a writer's unique essence comes in is through their prose/style. The exoskeleton of the story--what holds everything else in place. Like the way they put sentences together, use words to describe emotions, details, and so on...
But when their POV characters are talking or thinking, the character's likes/dislikes/opinons/and beliefs should overshadow whatever the author might believe, etc...
For example, my heroine right now is a butterfly breeder, and she often thinks of things within the confines of nature, which comes through in comparisons and analogies in her inner narrative.
It's like, as the author, we look through the kaleidoscope of each character's history and motivations, using those colors to paint our prose. Does that make sense? I've no idea. It's six o'clock in the morning, after all. Snort!
I totally agree with your comment. :-) It's a balance to keep my voice from overshadowing the characters. Thanks for saying I do well with that. Hopefully I can keep doing well.
I find myself applying my voice to each character and it's hard to separate myself from the character and think and feel like they would. Probably why I write most things in first person!
First person would be a good way to keep things straight, right? LOL But then we still have to keep things in character, etc.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to work at this. :-)
I work with it constantly. Stopping to ask myself, would this character say/do this? How would someone like them react to this situation?
Also, recently I had to rewrite a scene because I was having my character react to something in a way that didn't seem to fit her personality. She was reacting in the way I would, not how she would.
Sometimes it's so simple to give them life of their own and others...not as much!
Some characters are more vocal than others. :D
Some characters are easier to write than others, too. I have found with a concentrated effort, it has been getting slightly easier for me to access them and silence my personal voice.
There have been books, especially ones where the author is doing multiple first person POV, where they all sound the same. It gets bad when the characters are male and female and they sound exactly the same (I remember that for one book in particular). I got so frustrated because it would take me a full page to realize it wasn't the character I thought it was (because the POVs didn't alternate at either; there was no pattern to it). I stopped after 100 pages into it. It's too bad because the actual story and setting were so promising.
My MC sometimes annoyed me in my first novel...but I'm sure that was something about myself leaking on the page. :D
~ Wendy
Now I'm fixing to check my blog list and see who's posted something for me to read. :-)
Having been honored to judge one of your entries, I can say without doubt that you rock at making your characters different. They were so real that I still remember them, esp. your snooty, decorative heroine. :-)
wb
I'm late jumping in but I think this is something I worry about. It really helps to have good CPs who can pick it up. I have tried to go through and only read the lines my character is saying and stay in their heads. This might be even more important when it's not a scene in their POV.
I respect my stepmother for taking my 2 brothers and I, one at a time no less, and then adopting us. She had two of her own - five kids! eek! But, she kept us together and I will always respect and love her for that! oh wait, I meant to put this on my blog comments *laugh*...
I have to watch my characters' mannerisms more than their speech. Too many fingers raking through the hair, etc. LOL!
Blessings,
Susan :)
Do you hate giving up on a book or is it easy for you? Before I had kids I always read a book until the end. Now I just don't have time. Mostly I'll try, but there have been one or two I've given up. Sorry to hear about that.
Re-gift? LOL Seriously, if it's Christian, stick it in your church library. There are books I've thought were so completely boring that other people thought were awesome. Taste is so subjective.
Welcome to the world of reading!!! I've lived here since I was five. LOL It's a wonderful, beautiful place. What genres are you finding to be your favorite so far?
What a great idea to read just their lines out loud, and not in their pov...I've never done this before.
:-) Actions are just as important as dialogue in making a character unique.
It can be difficult. I'm struggling right now with a character who did something I would never, ever do, something I have little sympathy for. It's tough, for sure, but worth it when we get it right. :-)
Have a wonderful day, Jessica. :)
I think our voice is always going to come through. I mean, it's word choice, sentence structure, etc. That's why it's so hard to make sure our characters' voices are coming through too.
I'm feel the same about N Roberts. I could recognize one of her books a mile away, just because her voice is so strong.
Although I write NF, I must still be careful that my "characters'" voices come through authentically, reflecting their true personalities. The temptation is to make yourself look funny and smart, and everyone else a buffoon. But real life is that I'm more often the buffoon.
Jen
I think voice is the most important thing in writing fiction.
Thank you for the compliment. *blush* Actually, I can count on one hand the number of people who've told me I'm beautiful.
I like this pic because it softens my strong features, like my huge honker of a nose. Snort!! (you hear how loud that was? lol)
You're very sweet to comment on my pic. Now when are you gonna get a pic up? I know you must be cute, all those celebrities hitting on you. LOL!
I always worry my own voice will be in all my characters--and struggle with that.