tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926989890703867833.post8620396235205632229..comments2024-02-10T03:13:55.366-05:00Comments on Behind The Garden Gate: That Elusive "Voice"The Wild Rose Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10788008988163575341noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926989890703867833.post-85418214921835265612009-01-21T19:12:00.000-05:002009-01-21T19:12:00.000-05:00I have a huge character sheet I go through for eac...I have a huge character sheet I go through for each of mine. It includes stuff I'll never need, favourite colour, least fave veggies and so on. As well as how they react to stress or spiders lol. But at least by the end of it I know them.Clare Revellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09441173125025351004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926989890703867833.post-16204379654992856732009-01-20T21:51:00.000-05:002009-01-20T21:51:00.000-05:00Hi Debra! It's great that your voice came through ...Hi Debra! It's great that your voice came through early for you. You had half the battle already won! Thanks for checking out my blog. <BR/><BR/>Cari, so good to see you here! Thanks so much! I have a manuscript just like the one you're describing. LOL. And, you're so right--it IS a beautiful thing when it comes together. Thanks for stopping by :)<BR/><BR/>Eliza, thanks for commenting! Sounds like you honed your voice by writing, and it is coming through. But, it is SO true that in some ways, it will always be a bit elusive. <BR/><BR/>Hi Christine! That essay sounds like a fabulous idea. I alternate between using an interview, or just a sketch. Thanks for stopping by!<BR/><BR/>ReneeRenee Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12736418616570983428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926989890703867833.post-28392157939088014712009-01-20T17:18:00.000-05:002009-01-20T17:18:00.000-05:00This is a great post! Sometimes to get to know my ...This is a great post! Sometimes to get to know my characters I have them write a "Who I Am" essay.christine Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800441088372947329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926989890703867833.post-60289308047929286572009-01-20T15:39:00.000-05:002009-01-20T15:39:00.000-05:00Hi Renee! Great post. I agree with you that the ...Hi Renee! Great post. I agree with you that the only way to really hone your voice is to keep on writing. <BR/><BR/>To be honest, the concept of voice is something that is still a little confusing to me, although I can recognize it in my writing. I don't know how it happened or how I got to that point where I have a distinctive voice, it's a mystery to me. So I do think part of it comes naturally, but I definitely look back at some of my work and think, YIKES--which proves practice can only make you better!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your advice!Eliza Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17209596240914705136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926989890703867833.post-38805659093410077402009-01-20T15:37:00.000-05:002009-01-20T15:37:00.000-05:00Excellent post, Renee! If I'd had this post two ye...Excellent post, Renee! If I'd had this post two years ago - and really followed your suggestions - I probably wouldn't have had to rewrite the same MS from scratch three times now (with numerous revision drafts in there, too, LOL.) I committed all the sins. Didn't know my characters well enough, didn't know the line I was targeting. But when all those cylinders finally start firing, it's a beautiful thing. :)<BR/><BR/>Every writer should hang this post on their wall, IMHO. This writer needs to, anyway. ;)Cari Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06581235338272282124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5926989890703867833.post-31250216479489718442009-01-20T15:13:00.000-05:002009-01-20T15:13:00.000-05:00Voice is a tricky one! As for honing, I agree, the...Voice is a tricky one! As for honing, I agree, the more you write, the better you get at finding your voice. For me voice is simply telling a story in my own way. (I was actually better at the voice thing than getting all of the right plot elements, character arcs, and POV into a story when I first began writing). Critiquers always said, "Your voice is great, but here's what you need to work on..."Debra St. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.com