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Familiar yet elusive, like a dream we can’t quite remember or that shadow we catch from the corner of our eye. For many of us, this would describe our writer’s voice. The more we try to grasp it, the more difficult it is to hear. Ask any group of writers for a definition of Voice and you will probably have just as many answers. It is as if the definition must be felt, not explained; as if finding the answer is a rite of passage. Alison Dubois is ready to guide us through this passage with her course entitled Finding Your Writer’s Voice which begins August 2nd.
Freelancer, ghostwriter and award winning poet, Alison’s writing career spans over 30 years. It includes six books, an Associate’s in Journalism, a Bachelor’s in Literature and a Master’s in Creative Writing. She is with us today to shed some light on this mysterious Voice.
Hi Alison, you’ve had such an eclectic writing career; I can’t think of anyone more qualified to discuss the writer’s voice.
Some say our voice just naturally is who we are, something that develops over time. Why should we focus on developing it?
Alison: To a point what you just said is true, our voice is who we are, or at least a part of who we are. But it is important to understand that defining our voice is every bit as critical in our development as a writer as honing your writing skills are to becoming a successful writer. In some ways it’s even more important because one’s “voice” is what sets one apart from everyone else.
It is what makes each of us unique and memorable as writers. And this uniqueness often translates into salability which is tantamount to one’s commercial success. Think about how one author’s book will sell millions and another author’s book will be left unread. What makes us keep turning the page in one and close the book in the other?
It is more than just good writing. And what is good writing anyway? It is that ability to transform words into such a way as to connect to its intended audience. Good writing elevates us. A good voice however, mesmerizes us.
Or think about it this way, a person who has a “raw” talent for singing…ask them the same question why should they “develop” it? Because natural (or raw talent) ability in and of itself is rarely enough to make one successful. But when we develop our gifts and learn how to apply the skills we learn along the way, that’s when we are most successful.
True, stodgy books are rarely curled up with (smile). But before we can develop our voice we first need to define it. One of the ways you help students do this is by giving them a “series of mini writing lessons designed to elicit strong emotions”. This is intriguing...
Alison: Yes. The point of these exercises is to help the students tap into their emotions while working on their specific assignment. By using a forum (in this case students are asked to describe themselves) that is intimate and personal, the students (ideally) will be very involved with their writing and hopefully their answers will reflect that.
Would you say, then, that our voice is hidden or guarded?
Alison: I wouldn't say it's hidden, more l
1 Comments on Finding Your Writer's Voice: Tips from Alison Dubois, last added: 7/25/2010
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This is really a great interview with lots of information! I have not heard a 'writer's voice' described so clearly before! Thank you, so much!