tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post5116774788240289252..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: The Insecure Writer and Losing Your VoiceChemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-90030728839221240042014-07-04T19:09:36.524-04:002014-07-04T19:09:36.524-04:00I've tried to comment twice using my Google ID...I've tried to comment twice using my Google ID and neither showed up. Your voice came through loud and clear in both chapters I read on the plane. Inventive and funny. How's that for voice? The biggest change I made was to get you out of the students' heads. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-71223845117043644122014-07-03T12:02:43.125-04:002014-07-03T12:02:43.125-04:00It sometimes pays to break the writing rules. If w...It sometimes pays to break the writing rules. If we didn't, everything would be the same and rather bland. I'm all for finding a voice that works for you. Hope you can edit it all back into your ms.Suzanne Furnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00908200156114453054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-28952508983873232962014-07-03T11:36:17.365-04:002014-07-03T11:36:17.365-04:00I know what you mean!!! Mine comes and goes. It ge...I know what you mean!!! Mine comes and goes. It gets nice and strong during NaNoWriMo when I am writing like crazy and can't stop to think about things too much. Then it fizzles out. I make some free writing a regular part of my routine to keep it going. Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-17091579046465350352014-07-03T07:20:04.462-04:002014-07-03T07:20:04.462-04:00I once edited a novella so many times, I lost my v...I once edited a novella so many times, I lost my voice too - I edited it out. It's great you spotted it, and know how to rectify it. Good luck, and have fun with your words!Annalisa Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-57667253416128076542014-07-02T23:56:50.697-04:002014-07-02T23:56:50.697-04:00Rules will do that to a voice. It took me a long t...Rules will do that to a voice. It took me a long time to learn that.<br />Best wishes finding your voice again.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-73067379659416643042014-07-02T23:11:53.197-04:002014-07-02T23:11:53.197-04:00You'll definitely get it back!
I've read ...You'll definitely get it back!<br /><br />I've read about this happening with other writers. They edit and edit and eventually lose the voice. But I know how you feel...we're trying to do all the "right" things.<br /><br />Good luck. No go get that voice!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-37039696391127660962014-07-02T22:56:02.179-04:002014-07-02T22:56:02.179-04:00Following the rules absolutely causes you to lose ...Following the rules absolutely causes you to lose your voice. I want to recommend a book for you to read called, Finding Your Voice by Les Edgerton. He's a really cool guy who has a very uncannily good sense for what voice in writing is and how to get you to find your own. I read this a few years ago when I was having the same trouble you are now, and it helped me immensely!<br /><br />I would make some regular suggestions, too, if I may. Perhaps change to writing in a different POV, say from 3rd person to 1st person. See what happens when you get inside your character's head and really become that character. If you haven't already tried that approach, you may be surprised at how helpful it can be.<br /><br />Best of luck, Ken. You'll figure this out, eventually. Give it time!Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-81284248992273448342014-07-02T22:45:01.531-04:002014-07-02T22:45:01.531-04:00I agree with what everyone else is saying. Sometim...I agree with what everyone else is saying. Sometimes the rules just dull the voice. And it is your own unique voice that makes the story yours. Good luck and have a great rest of the week. :)Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-16119732240161656662014-07-02T16:30:14.123-04:002014-07-02T16:30:14.123-04:00I'm beginning to think that I'll need a fi...I'm beginning to think that I'll need a final editing pass just to put my voice back into the manuscript. Hopefully, I'll get better about not taking it out in the first place.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-65465237718361625242014-07-02T16:24:42.172-04:002014-07-02T16:24:42.172-04:00Yep, I'm beginning to think it's coming ba...Yep, I'm beginning to think it's coming back, a little stronger than before.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-24375688953765066952014-07-02T16:21:36.053-04:002014-07-02T16:21:36.053-04:00That's what happens, ChemistKen. Few of us liv...That's what happens, ChemistKen. Few of us live between the lines so how can we write between them? Great point you make.worddreamshttp://worddreams.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-19494350564114771132014-07-02T15:36:43.918-04:002014-07-02T15:36:43.918-04:00The comment above me already say what I was going ...The comment above me already say what I was going to say. I actually had a critique group member cross out a bunch of lines in her critique saying "you don't need this". They were all "voice" lines that the other members loved. Ah well. <br /><br />I hope you get your voice back!<br /><br /><a href="http://lonitownsend.com/" rel="nofollow">Loni</a>Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-40475413764436260002014-07-02T15:13:19.689-04:002014-07-02T15:13:19.689-04:00Echoing the above comments, it's so easy to fo...Echoing the above comments, it's so easy to focus on the rules and lose that all-important voice! I'd suggest trying to write without editing for a while, or maybe go back to an original draft. Best of luck! :)ELAdamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-5516299343296129512014-07-02T15:13:06.557-04:002014-07-02T15:13:06.557-04:00I had to laugh about the World Cup. My voice went ...I had to laugh about the World Cup. My voice went away for a while too. :D<br /><br />Good luck with your editing. Your voice will make your stories shine. Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-59658004811746596982014-07-02T15:08:45.747-04:002014-07-02T15:08:45.747-04:00I found that true when I followed all the rules, t...I found that true when I followed all the rules, too. So I slacked off on some, so I am me.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-50435545392132465132014-07-02T14:49:33.530-04:002014-07-02T14:49:33.530-04:00A unique voice is what will draw people to your wo...A unique voice is what will draw people to your work. J.K. Rowling's voice is rather popular so if yours is anything like hers, you should be in good shape. : )Jeff Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374806472853391788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-69284223074578099082014-07-02T13:29:16.090-04:002014-07-02T13:29:16.090-04:00Yeah, voice is hard. I found that I went through a...Yeah, voice is hard. I found that I went through a stage where I'd lost my voice. It was because my previous voice was contrived. Then, as I went on, my voice formed. It happened gradually at first, but I think a lot of people go through the process of losing a voice only to find a more purified version of it. Renahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02767762370997304308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-6151628403519523792014-07-02T11:59:35.889-04:002014-07-02T11:59:35.889-04:00Lexa and Cherie sum it up nicely. Too often we all...Lexa and Cherie sum it up nicely. Too often we allow the joy to go out of our writing because of the strong desire to be better. I try to distance myself from my characters when I'm writing. I have this little post it that reads, This isn't about you. It's like watching a good movie and getting so engrossed you forget you. Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-67831855914498350862014-07-02T11:46:02.747-04:002014-07-02T11:46:02.747-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Cherie Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205065477147957455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-69021180779383822532014-07-02T11:43:36.038-04:002014-07-02T11:43:36.038-04:00Lexa is right. As writers, we work hard to learn t...Lexa is right. As writers, we work hard to learn the rules, but it's important to know it's okay to break them. Sometimes, you have to break them. I have a novel that lost its voice on the final revision. It never sold, and I'm sure it's because that unique voice is missing. One day I'm going to go back one draft, add in only the additional scenes, and try sub'ing it again. Good luck in your writing. Cherie Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205065477147957455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-76295912351377068732014-07-02T11:35:30.860-04:002014-07-02T11:35:30.860-04:00That's such an important point! It can happen ...That's such an important point! It can happen to anyone. The thing to do is learn the rules, be able to write within them - and then be able to decide when to toss them out the window! My "voice" often comes with passive verbs and even an adverb or three. The trick is that I know how to fix it, and once I do, I see if I like it that way better. If I don't, if I think it sucks the voice from the passage/paragraph, I go back to the "wrong" way. Good luck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-89652722915668241012014-07-02T11:29:45.256-04:002014-07-02T11:29:45.256-04:00It is such a shame that we feel as though we have ...It is such a shame that we feel as though we have to follow all the "rules" and we lose the one thing that makes our work unique—our voice. So glad you realized you were doing that! Good luck finding your voice again! Kristin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15119967346326579747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-75995870371571764492014-07-02T11:11:45.155-04:002014-07-02T11:11:45.155-04:00Oh no, Ken! This happens to way too many authors....Oh no, Ken! This happens to way too many authors. Editing can be hard. We tend to focus on the minutia and the rules that we forget to look at the big picture. <br /><br />I can't speak for everyone, but for me as a reader Voice is on the top of the list of thing that make me fall in love with a book.<br /><br />Voice, character, story, THEN writing. A sentence can be beautifully crafted, but if the other three things are missing than it just feels cold.<br /><br />I hope you find your voice again! Good luck.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15112453424639639466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-17934760068920820792014-07-02T10:08:28.903-04:002014-07-02T10:08:28.903-04:00We don't need no stinking rules!
If that's...We don't need no stinking rules!<br />If that's sucking the life out of your story, heck with the rules. Voice is much more important.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-8543719331120107392014-07-02T09:55:35.578-04:002014-07-02T09:55:35.578-04:00Yeah I've found that I edit the voice right ou...Yeah I've found that I edit the voice right out of my books if I start editing too soon. So now I draft without looking back at my work. Then rewrite focusing on getting the voice right. <br /><br />And then carefully edit to make sure everything's clear to the reader. (Well. Everything that NEEDS to be clear, I mean.) Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.com