Finding Your Voice Part Two

Last time, I discussed character voice. This time, I'm going to talk about finding your voice. That voice that is completely your own.

But how am I supposed to develop my voice?

Well, lovelies, it's actually not all that hard. You don't "develop" your voice--it's already in you. You've just got to bring it to the surface.

Bringing your voice to the surface of your writing may sound like a daunting task, but in reality, it's not that hard. It may actually be a little easier than finding your character voice.

Your voice comes from within you. It's in there right now, just waiting for you to dig your hands in and pull it out. But how are you supposed to do that?

Read, Read, Read...

You can't be a good writer if you're not a good reader. It's a fact. Sorry, lovelies, that's just the way the world works. Without a vast knowledge of what sells and what flops, what works and what doesn't, and what's been done to death, you'll fail.

While you're reading, keep an eye out for things that work for you. Things you want to borrow from.

Write, Write, Write....

Most of us fall into a little habit of writing what we're used to. Things that are safely snuggled inside our comfort zone. You've got to break out of that habit. Throw inhibitions to wind and write something new--something exciting. Something that makes your palms sweat and your mouth go dry.

Even If It's Horrible

You'll write a lot of things that aren't quite up to par while you're bringing your voice out. But that's okay. No story--not even if it's the worst thing you've ever sneezed out--is a wasted effort. Every little bit of practice counts. So, even if what you're typing out is complete shit, keep typing. No one ever has to see it.

Trance Out

Now, I'm not saying go out and pay someone to hypnotize you--no, I'm saying you should try writing some things just as you're waking up. Or, in my case, after you've been up for a while. I never thought I'd actually say this, but my insomnia actually comes in pretty handy with this one. After you've been up for a while and there's a nice layer of fuzz on your brain, you have a better chance of getting in touch with your subconscious voice.

Don't Touch That Book

In the midst of a writing spell, I find that it's best to avoid reading. I know, I know...I just said you should be reading as much as possible. But, hear me out. I've found that I borrow a little too much from other writer's if I'm reading a book and doing a lot of writing. For example, one of my favorite books of all time is Catcher in the Rye. While I was writing the first draft of LIGHTS OUT, I read Catcher in the Rye. The second bit of LIGHTS OUT--the bit that coincided with reading the book--read almost identical to JD Salinger's style. So, if you're writing like a (wo)man possessed, avoid reading, or you might end up borrowing a little too much from another author.

Don't Force It

One of the worst things you can do to your voice is practicing it. Your voice is a natural thing. I know this is a hard pill to swallow, but it's true. If you pick your voice apart, you're also tearing apart what it really is. Your voice should flow naturally from inside you.

But Don't Get Comfortable

Yeah, this seems a little confusing--since I just said don't practice--but listen up. When I say "don't practice," I don't mean don't practice your writing. You've GOT to do that. But you shouldn't have to practice and think about the words you're using.

Now, if you get comfortable, you get stuck in that rut I mentioned earlier. The one where you just write the same things over and over and over and over....

You don't want that.

Write What Scares You

If your palms are sweating and your heart is pounding, you're doing something right. I hear a lot of people say "write what your comfortable with," but I disagree. I think writing inside your comfort zone is boring. Do something that pushes you out of your box. It's that sort of stuff that incites a reaction in your reader.

Push The Envelope

Imagine your most uptight relative (in my case, it's my grandmother) is standing over your shoulder while you're writing. They're standing there with their arms crossed, insisting you write nice, clean, Disney-grade stuff. Now, shock them. Make their jaw drop. Break down those walls and push the envelope with your writing. For example, Steph wrote a lesbian romance. You don't see those too often. And I've really got to applaud her for that one. That's the stuff I'm talking about when I say "push the envelope."

Hope this was helpful! If you've got any questions or want to suggest a topic, leave a comment and I'll jump right on it!

Happy writing, lovelies!

(Oh, by the way, I've been considering starting a second blog dedicated to my life and things that amuse me. What do you guys think? Would you check it out?)