Does your writing fall flat? Want to find a way to bring it alive?
"Our egos, monsters that they are, are desperately afraid
that people won't accept our authentic selves. That's why we fear
speaking in public. And making a toast. And telling someone we love
them. And putting our creativity on display. And wearing that. We're
afraid that when we put ourselves out there, we won't be worthy,
lovable, understood, or good enough. We're afraid to be authentic
because we're so worried about being authenticated, as in validated,
like a piece of art that some expert is going to pass judgment on."
- Katie Goodman, O Magazine, March 2007.
Is your writing authentic? Are you afraid of letting you
come through in your writing? What does your writing voice sound
like? Do you have a voice? If you do, is it the voice you want people
to hear?
Voice in writing is important because you can't write effectively
and powerfully without voice. You will never impact others without
voice. It's voice that attracts readers.
What exactly is voice?
- Voice is personality. Just as you could identify
someone's personality to another (she's smart, but she lacks common
social skills), you can identify voice in writing.
- Voice is allowing your passion and enthusiasm
for a subject to show through.
- Voice is the author peeking through the words,
simple narration, or chronology of events. It's what makes it
unique, and makes a piece of writing one person's over another's.
- Voice is truth. To bring voice into your writing,
you have to be authentic. You must know what you believe, what
you are writing about, and why.
It's possible that you are challenged by writing in your own voice.
You might not be sure what your voice actually is, or perhaps you're
afraid to use your voice. It can feel too personal and too revealing,
and we understand that. But if you don't reveal the person behind
the words, then why would someone want to read what you write?
Writing Your Voice Alive will help you recognize voice in writing,
others' as well as your own, and help you learn how to create voice
when you write.
You'll read others' writing and try to determine voice. You'll
practice using voice in your own writing. You'll learn how to create
and develop your voice in your writing.
By the end of Writing Your Voice Alive, you truly will have awakened
and strengthened your voice, and your writing will be alive.
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