tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post2831960251133961802..comments2024-03-28T02:36:55.037-04:00Comments on Brooklyn Arden: FAQ #9 (I think?): Questions About VoiceCherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972029478350879112noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-88585233367281149022009-04-09T11:25:00.000-04:002009-04-09T11:25:00.000-04:00Vanilla here! dear lord.... when I typed those wor...Vanilla here! dear lord.... when I typed those words, I was acting more ot of desperation than out of hope to find an answer. But answers it is that you gave me, and I'm trully thankful for it. Fantastic post Cheryl! you are really helping out a lot of people by taking the time to disect such an intangible subject as voice. I feel hopeful once more :).Tyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-26761121239454216522009-03-17T23:51:00.000-04:002009-03-17T23:51:00.000-04:00Well, I realize your talk is probably over already...Well, I realize your talk is probably over already, and I hope/am sure it went well. I had to smile reading your post, however, because your commentary is so very much your own, distinctive voice. It's a mix of tiny, exact details, thorough familiarity with what you are talking about (ie, expert on theoretical matters), and yet with practical threads that tie your theory back to the same earth that everybody else is walking around on. I think that nailing voice for a character is going to be a bit like that--the reader should feel the character's breadth of knowledge in the areas of life s/he does know about, and perhaps have some solid ties to...well, *something* that the reader can get a grasp of. And there should be small details in the narration/action/description that are peculiar to the character (in a close POV) or the overall tone of the book (in a more omnicient POV). <BR/><BR/>Sometimes when I'm feeling vanilla-voiced I crit en masse, or read a variety of interesting blogs, because it opens my eyes to the many unique voices there are out there. And then I can hear my own again, sounding different from all the rest.Rose Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10752073931486321348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-6115792509904270852009-03-14T20:10:00.000-04:002009-03-14T20:10:00.000-04:00http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-vi...http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/221465/march-12-2009/craziest-f--king-thing-i-ve-ever-heard---barreleye-fish<BR/><BR/>Your friend with the transparent head made the Colbert Report!!Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15363411079221274431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-44850026938796117182009-03-11T23:40:00.000-04:002009-03-11T23:40:00.000-04:00Love this post. Voice is so, so important in novel...Love this post. Voice is so, so important in novels, and often I find it can be the difference in just liking a novel and absolutely loving it.JenWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00582622561973120857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-62554582009684272342009-03-11T22:19:00.000-04:002009-03-11T22:19:00.000-04:00Loved your thought of making a playlist for your c...Loved your thought of making a playlist for your character. I put on the playlist for my chapter's POV character, because the attitude invades my brain, puts everything into that character's voice. Radiohead writing is going to be different from 50 Cent ;)<BR/><BR/>Also, when my voice is feeling a little vanilla, I put on rap. Those songs are built on pure, ostentatious voice ;) Listen to Boyz in the Hood and try not to get locked into the narrator's POV ;)Sashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371894965848820820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-42480332442991246752009-03-11T22:05:00.000-04:002009-03-11T22:05:00.000-04:00i am a puddle of fan girl for neil g! and interest...i am a puddle of fan girl for neil g! and interesting about third not having to be your heroine's voice. what about close third? i tried to write everything from her voice and perspective...<BR/><BR/>thanks for taking the time to answer questions. awesome post!cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175698109176599954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-79780563119797966192009-03-11T11:52:00.000-04:002009-03-11T11:52:00.000-04:00Cheryl,As always, you're so generous with your adv...Cheryl,<BR/>As always, you're so generous with your advice to writers. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>In my current WIP I'm using a lot of freewriting to find and stay in voice throughout the story. And it's very much in line with this point you make above:<BR/><BR/>"1. Start out writing everything that comes to mind—all the backstory, internal monologue, etc., you want. Then you have it all laid out before you and you just have to choose what’s truly necessary and cut the rest."<BR/><BR/>I think in the past I was worried about too much naval-gazing and consequently couldn't stay in the head of my MC long enough to maintain her voice. Writing everything that comes to mind creates surprising thoughts, turns of phrase, and humor that allows me to enter more deeply into my MC's first person voice.<BR/><BR/>Another trick I love to use is talking out scenes, even before they're written -- sometimes with a little voice lilt or accent going on. This is a great help in developing the rhythm of a character's voice which seems also key. And it happens to be really fun!<BR/><BR/>Thanks again!Jean Reidyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12103543981151799121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-60961180550563376062009-03-11T11:34:00.000-04:002009-03-11T11:34:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jean Reidyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12103543981151799121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-47267864935349401152009-03-10T13:38:00.000-04:002009-03-10T13:38:00.000-04:00Cheryl - Thanks for an extremely helpful post. You...Cheryl - Thanks for an extremely helpful post. You've touched on a couple of issues I've just begun to address in my WIP.Jean Wogamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14464446396668373473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-40452957860872078252009-03-10T13:08:00.000-04:002009-03-10T13:08:00.000-04:00The Graveyard Book is as nearly perfect as anythin...The Graveyard Book is as nearly perfect as anything I've read in a while. It's heartening to know that Gaiman says he tried to write it on and off for over a decade--searching, maybe, for the voice that could convey the weight and wonder of his vision with such sweet wit.Tricia Springstubbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09011689894699357496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-25007086086271258562009-03-10T12:41:00.000-04:002009-03-10T12:41:00.000-04:00Another trick for those trying to find a character...Another trick for those trying to find a character's voice, picture which actor or actress your character would want to play them in a movie. That's their voice (at least until something better appears). <BR/><BR/>Good Luck -Craven<BR/><BR/>And great blog, Cheryl.Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430626765231636800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-69360874164641065252009-03-10T08:21:00.000-04:002009-03-10T08:21:00.000-04:00For the person who has the too-vanilla voiceOver t...For the person who has the too-vanilla voice<BR/>Over the years in critique group I've noticed that writers who struggle to make their voice more interesting are often writing about what they think they should and not about their passions. Try writing writing about what makes you very sad or very angry or joyous and see if your voice doesn't improve.<BR/><BR/>For me, with a theater background, it helps to 'step' into character to write in a particular voice.<BR/><BR/>Interesting post, Cheryl. So where in Mizzouri are you speaking?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-51304451257984580882009-03-10T03:43:00.000-04:002009-03-10T03:43:00.000-04:00Cheryl,I'd love to hear your thoughts on voice as ...Cheryl,<BR/><BR/>I'd love to hear your thoughts on voice as it relates to regional accent. Why is it that trying to produce regional variations in pronunciation using spelling falls flat. Dawg for dog, as an example. <BR/><BR/>Why does the phrase "That child is fixin' to get teeth." sound condescending but "Do you know what that child needs? Home training." sounds just as southern but is much more palatable.<BR/><BR/>And how do you as an editor know if a regional voice is authentic if it's not your culture or one readily observed by you? Is there a copy editing or fact checking process for accents and regionalisms?<BR/><BR/>Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com