{"id":20852,"date":"2019-02-12T01:00:19","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T09:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=20852"},"modified":"2019-02-14T21:25:23","modified_gmt":"2019-02-15T05:25:23","slug":"developing-your-voice-by-kay-keppler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/12\/developing-your-voice-by-kay-keppler\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing Your Voice by Kay Keppler"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Let\u2019s\u00a0welcome\u00a0back monthly columnist, editor, and novelist,\u00a0Kay Keppler<\/a>, as she shares with us\u00a0 \u201cDeveloping Your Voice.”\u00a0Enjoy!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Most writers read a lot<\/strong>, and when they first sit down to write, they use as models for their own work the books of writers they admire. This practice has a couple of useful benefits: It helps beginners become accustomed to the writing task, the process of committing words to a page. And it helps writers learn how to put sentences and words together in a structure that makes sense.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Obsess on the Work of Others<\/strong><\/h2>\n

However, lingering too long on the writing of others means that you\u2019re putting off finding your own unique voice.<\/p>\n

Voice is a distinct way of putting words together, a unique sensibility, or a specific outlook. It comes with practice and the confidence you build as you write that what you\u2019re saying is what you want to say and how you want to say it. Scott Gloden<\/a> calls this effect \u201cdancing on the page.\u201d<\/p>\n

Writing Voice<\/h2>\n

Gloden says that to keep his writing voice fresh, he now dances for real all the time on his own\u2014just for a couple of seconds, maybe, but often. Maybe he takes a couple of steps when he retrieves the mail or leaves the room. He uses the movement to remind himself that you have to dance for yourself, that you shouldn\u2019t try to keep up with others who might be heading in a different direction. The dancing, he says, is \u201ca reminder to keep excavating my voice\u2026to deliver what\u2026I’m longing to convey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Voice in writing,<\/strong> as in talking, is a reflection of your personality, including attitude, tone, and personal style.<\/p>\n