Author: Dee Dee Parker - Developing Your Writer's Voice/The Writerly Cafe

Dee Dee Parker infuses wisps of Southern grace throughout both her writing and speaking. She is the author of a children’s book, Josie Jo’s Got to Know and has contributed to numerous anthologies, such as Chicken Soup for the Soul, God’s Provision for Tough Times, and Clothes Lines. Dee Dee writes for Christian Devotions, Guidepost books, Guidepost.org, as well as Focus On the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. magazine. Her first Christmas novella has landed in the hands of her agent. Dee Dee lives snuggled among the NC Appalachian Mountains with her husband Jim, a retired minister, and their spoiled snoodle, Greta.

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The Writerly Cafe

A Large Serving of Muse, Please

A HEARTYWELCOME-1

Here at the café, I’ve received several questions on what a writer’s muse is and where writers can find it. The questions have been heavy on my mind during these hot summer days when my muse seems to have abandoned me for a hammock somewhere in the shade.

So let’s begin with a simple definition for a writer’s muse:  It is a source of inspiration for a creative work.

Now for the fun part! Pull up a chair and let’s throw out ideas as to where we can find our muse. I’ll get us started. Please join in via the comment section.

Some ways I stir my muse:

  • I always have a small notebook with me in case inspirations strikes. I have been known to pull over in a parking lot after seeing something that I knew would make a great story or devotion.
  • One sentence from an article online can spark an idea for a totally different subject. An overheard conversation can lead to a short story plot.
  • I live in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains where every bend in the road offers inspiration for a writer. A writer friend of mine rents a cabin near me where she writes poetry.
  • I’ve found children and animals inspire me. One of my next projects will be a story inspired by a young girl and her gift to my daughter on her wedding day.
  • Music is high on the list as a muse. A few words from a song can inspire a story or even a melody, evoking emotions for the perfect story.
  • I am a people watcher and I often write stories in my head about a person that walks by, sits in a park, or stands outside a homeless shelter. A favorite piece I wrote was about a man I met in a thrift store whose wares funded food and shelter for people recovering from substance abuse.

Join me over at Cathy Baker’s site, Cultivating Creativity, to learn more ways I find my muse. (You will also learn about a hidden talent of mine!)

Thank you for sharing one way you find your writing muse in the comment section.

 

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The Writerly Cafe

What’s Your Favorite Summer Writing Place?

A HEARTYWELCOMEYesterday I decided to move to the back deck of our house to set up my “summer writing office”. I made several trips with computer, notebooks, pens and pencils, all balanced precariously in my arms. Of course I brought a tall glass of sweet tea and a small snack. Trust me, the snack idea lead to an unhappy writing event! Within fifteen minutes of getting organized I was fighting a small army of various bugs intent on having my fair skin as their snack.

After a quick move to the front porch I met the kith and kin of the back-deck killer bugs. I returned inside and called my neighbor who is blessed with a screened-in porch that overlooks a beautiful view of the Appalachian Mountains. I explained my dilemma and she graciously invited me to use her porch for my writing efforts. I gathered my writing paraphernalia and went to the neighbor’s house. An hour passed and I had not written a word, but had immensely enjoyed the nature I watched, and the conversation I had with my neighbor.

Feeling defeated I returned home and settled at my desk in front of an opened window that overlooks a peaceful pasture and delivers wonderful mountain breezes. Ah…this was the summer writing spot my soul needed. I wrote for two hours and feeling very proud of myself, I went to the back deck and announced my feat to the destroyer-bug population.

My question to you café members is…where do you prefer to write during the summer? D.H. Lawrence enjoyed writing beneath the shade of a tree. Jan Karon, author of the popular The Mitford series, writes in a cottage on the grounds of her plantation. Well known author Elin Hilderbrand rides her bike a mile to the beach each day and writes sitting in the sand. I realize not all of us have the beach close by or a writing cottage, but I feel sure some of you move out onto porches, decks and poolside.

I pray the start of summer is treating you with hot sunny days on which to write. I look forward to receiving your answers to this post’s summer question. Remember to stop by the café often and bring along your comments and questions.

 

“Every Summer has a story”-Unknown Author

 

 

 

 

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The Writerly Cafe

What Gives You Conference Confidence?

DDCONFERENCEI want to thank everyone that read my first post of The Writerly Café, especially those who took the time to leave a comment. Comments provide us a two-way street of communication. They are our form of “chatter” that fills brick and mortar cafés. Comments build friendships and allows for exchanges of ideas.

This is evident from last month’s question:

  • Is writing your passion and if no one read your writing could you walk away? Most writers write foremost for the joy of writing and to ease the tug on their spirits to put words onto paper. I understand that tugging. I journal and blog because my words need an outlet! Do you agree, readers? Writing is a powerful form of self-expression. Most of you said that you would write if no one read your work.

Now, to change gears, so to speak. It is the season for writing conferences and I for one, could not be happier. I will be attended the BRMCWC (Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference) from May 22 until May 26. I have attended this conference for a good number of years. My writing has improved from the classes I’ve taken and from the encouragement leading professionals in our field have offered.

While preparing this column I thought back to my first conference experience. I was woefully unprepared and did not reap the potential rewards because of my lack of those preparations. Yes, I enjoyed the conference and took copious notes that I still refer to today but I could have gleaned so much more if I’d had CONFERENCE CONFIDENCE.

Conference Confidence comes from being prepared. I am blessed in knowing Edie Melson, director of BRMCWC, and from learning her great tips on preparing for the conference experience. Edie’s suggestions include an invaluable set-up of a conference notebook. I urge those who are first time attendees to read about conference preparations at Edie’s blog. Seasoned writers also benefit from Edie’s blog dedicated to helping writers at all stages of their careers hone their craft.

I learned early on to introduce myself to as many people, conference presenters and fellow attendees alike, and to offer them my business card.

I practiced my pitch and designed a one sheet for my fifteen-minute interviews thus allowing my confidence to rise with each encounter.

So, I throw these questions to you…do you have Conference Confidence, or do you feel lacking in this area? Let me say, I still shiver and quake when I meet some of the giants in our field and still get tongue tied at times. This is only natural. I do feel, however, preparation paves the way to a successful experience. What gives you conference confidence?

If you have any questions about conference preparations or comments that might help our café friends, please share in the comments sections.

Until our next gathering, thank you for pulling your chair up to the table once again.

 

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The Writerly Cafe

Welcome to the Writerly Cafe

a3DDmay16I’m excited to welcome each of you to the Writerly Cafe at Almost An Author. Here, you’ll find a place where writers gather to ask questions, exchange ideas, discuss hot writing topics and simply embrace the joy of writing. Being with others who share the same passion starts creative juices flowing. I hope the topics on our menu board each month will spark new writers to put pen-to-paper and experienced writers to deepen their love of this craft.

From time-to-time I will ask for your questions on issues of interest to writer’s. Please don’t feel any question is unimportant or too elementary to bring to the table. I will research the answers to your questions and do my best to be of help. I am blessed with many friends who are well versed in all areas of writing and have offered to share their wisdom concerning your questions.

“Passion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose you will normally find it is something you are tremendously passionate about.”
Steve Pavlina

Using the word passion above prompted me to toss out our first question. (Hosting the column does have its perks!)

I’m assuming you’re interested in writing if you’re reading this, but would you say that writing is your passion? If no one ever read your work, would you continue writing, or would you consider walking away? Please share your answers to these, or any other questions you might have, in the comment section below.

But first, I need to let you in on a secret. You never know when a special guest might join us at the café to offer encouragement, give glimpses into their writing journey, or share their best writing tips. Be sure tocoffee-1111666_640 keep your eye on the door!

Again, welcome to this new place in town. As in any café, we can always pull another chair to our table. The more writers, the better. Pour a cup of coffee, find a seat, and let’s tackle these questions and topics with gusto.

Please return each month to check the menu board. In the meantime, I welcome and appreciate your comments. Follow-up questions are encouraged.

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Developing Your Writer's Voice Uncategorized

Find Your Writer’s Voice Through Blogging

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I enjoy blogging about the Appalachian mountains where I live. My blog speaks to the traditions, faith, lifestyle, and character of the Appalachian people.

My heart pitter-pats when describing a snowy day while walking along a mountain path, conveying the inviting smell of a cast-iron skillet of cornbread or sharing the shades of coral and blue of a sunset over a mountain peak. I also love sharing stories of mountain characters that live in the hollows around me.

After reading past posts of my blog I realized my blog is where my writer’s voice blossomed. In post after post I saw my voice grow, not only clearer, but also stronger.

I choose to use first person tone in my storytelling throughout my blog thus allowing me to create a bond with my readers. Using first person tone allows me to infuse my personality, observations, and my experiences within the posts. This cozy type of blogging voice transferred onto the pages of my Appalachian novella.

“One reason I encourage people to blog is that the act of doing it stretches your available vocabulary and hones a new voice.” Seth Godin

I agree with Seth Godin; blogging can help hone a new voice, or as in my case, further develop a voice.

Do you blog? If so, set aside time to read over past posts. Watch for the ways you see your voice growing. If not, you may want to consider this popular communication tool. Who knows, your writer’s voice might emerge from your blog posts.

“The best way to develop your writer’s voice is to read a lot. And write a lot. There’s really no other way to do it.” Stephen King.

Writing a blog demands discipline in forming content, and out of content, comes the

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Developing Your Writer's Voice Uncategorized

A Simple Exercise for Finding Your Writer’s Voice

pencil-918449_640Many of us belong to writers groups that meet regularly with the goal of honing our writing skills, finding our writer’s voice, and receiving critiques of our work. Unfortunately, some writers have no such groups in their area. Online groups now offer this excellent opportunity, but for some, even this is not a viable option.

A novice writer, with no group in her area, and with limited computer skills, once asked if I had a suggestion for helping her to find her voice. She had started a novel in which her protagonist, a young mother, suffered loss in many areas of her life and wondered if her voice was true to the story line.

I created an exercise that requires only two people; of which being a writer was not a requirement for her partner.

The exercise consists of:

  • A topic chosen for a letter that each participant writes; such as an upcoming wedding/vacation memories etc.
  • Both participants choose the same recipient for the letter, such as a mother/friend.
  • Both participants complete the exercise, and then exchange letters.

The goal of this exercise is to compare the letters, and hopefully recognize each voice by studying the tone and style and of both writers.

The writer contacted me after completing the exercise saying she easily heard the voice difference between the two letters. She now understood, and heard her voice much clearer. After reading her first three chapters of the novel, I agreed with her assessment.

The protagonist in my new friend’s novel was tender in her words and actions; her losses in life having made her compassionate, and a friend to the less fortunate.

I find when writing fiction the character partners with the author to produce voice.

“A word is not the same with one as it is with another. One tears it from his gut. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket” William Wadsworth

 

 

 

 

 

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Developing Your Writer's Voice Uncategorized

Resources for Finding Your Writer’s Voice

“I write only because there is a voice within me that will not be still.” –Sylvia Plath

Are there writers that capture your fierce loyalty? Do you wait with anticipation for their newest book to release?

If you answered yes to the above questions, it is my guess you were first attracted to the author because of their writer’s voice. Author voices that shine through characters and plots keep you searching their author’s pages and websites for notification of their latest offering.

Perhaps you are a novice in the art of writing but dream of someday writing novels, blogs, or short stories that showcase your unique voice? There are numerous blog articles on this illusive matter of voice. books-484766_640

Three excellent examples are:

10 Steps to Finding Your Voice – Jeff Goins. Jeff gives an exercise on his website he developed to help you find your writing voice. I found this exercise to be extremely helpful for myself and I recommend it to students in workshops I teach.

What is Writer’s Voice? – Rachelle Gardner. In literary agent Rachelle Gardner’s post she gives a helpful definition of what voice is and isn’t. I always find helpful information on Rachelle’s site.

Ten Steps to Finding Your Writing Voice- Holly Lisle. Holly says, “Voice is bleeding onto the page and it can be a painful, frightening, naked experience.” Her post offers excellent suggestions and helps.

A book that I would recommend is: Finding Your Writer’s Voice: A Guide to Creative Fiction, by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall. The authors state, “Every writer has a natural voice, and every natural voice has its own way of telling a story.” Frank and Wall give exercises to help you on the quest of finding your voice.

Another book on the writer’s voice: Finding Your Voice: How to Put Personality in Your Writing, by Les Edgerton.

The resources mentioned above are a wonderful starting place for your journey in finding your voice. Remember, the more you write, the easier it will be to recognize your voice.

Is there a Web site or book that you’ve found helpful in the area of finding your writer’s voice? If so, please share!

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Craft Developing Your Writer's Voice

Writer’s Voice Questions Answered for 2016

DDA3Jan16I’ve received several questions concerning how one recognizes their writer’s voice. For those of you who discovered your voice early on, it’s hard to understand why others struggle with this issue. To those who are still wandering in the writer’s desert, seemingly voiceless, it is indeed frustrating.

So let’s start this New Year off by addressing a few of these questions:

  1. What is the first thing to do when searching for my writer’s voice? Since starting this column I’ve offered many tips on this subject. Some of you have written to me saying your voice was much clearer after reading through my suggestions. Others said your voice is still illusive. My answer for you is to write, write, write, then read, read, read! Read what you’ve written, out loud, and listen to the tone of the pieces. Your voice will be recognizable after reading and comparing numerous pieces of your work. You will hear yourself coming through the words; the essence of you, and that is your voice.
  1. How can I be sure I’m using my voice and not someone else that I have patterned? I believe we read the authors whose writing we enjoy, and in doing so, we often pattern ourselves after them, at least somewhat, with our first attempts. As you settle into your writing style your unique voice will emerge. I read a lot of authors whose books were set in the Appalachian Mountains where most of my stories are birthed. My voice developed a flavor of its own with just a soft coloring from those favorite writers.
  1. Does my voice change when I write in different genres? When writing fiction, my voice shines through loud and clear. In other genres I still hear hints of my style. I am sure if I were to write technical articles my voice would be shelved…a reader would not care to hear my warm and fuzzy discussions of, lets say, heating units.
  1. Will someone else be able to tell me my voice? Other writers will often hear your voice in your work. Asking them to share their thoughts on your voice could be a great help, especially if you ask several people and their opinions are similar.

Please share your questions on discovering your writers voice in the comment section below. We will address these as time permits.

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 

I wish you a happy New Year filled with wonderful writing opportunities.

 


 

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Developing Your Writer's Voice Uncategorized

Christmas Newsletters and the Writer’s Voice Within

DDA3Dec15There are two schools of thought about Christmas newsletters we receive from friends and family. One group loves them, and the other dreads seeing them tucked inside glitter-frosted cards.

I enjoy them immensely.

Although the newsletters come quickly, like ants filing out of anthills, they are, for me, a way to catch up on the happenings of loved ones every year.

Many of my newsletter-loving friends are writers, making theirs especially enjoyable to read, as you can’t help but “hear” their writer’s voice. One author gives beautiful descriptions of her home’s Christmas finery as she does in her book’s settings. She writes cozy novels and her newsletter seems to be an extension of her character’s warm and fuzzy lifestyles. Another writer friend’s letter hits only the high spots of her family’s holiday festivities. It lacks warmth and it’s not fuzzy in the least, a reflection of her bare bones writing style.

For practice in discovering your voice, write a Christmas newsletter. Let the words flow; remember this is just a practice exercise. When you finish, read the letter with fresh eyes and see if you recognize your style. In one of my earlier columns I suggested you read your older diaries and journals; this is another opportunity to examine free writings for glimpses of your unique voice.

Do I send Christmas newsletters, you might ask? The answer is no, simply because I am usually wrapping gifts until a Santa sighting is broadcast over the evening news report. I did, however, join you in this attempt, and my style and voice was easily recognized among the descriptions of holiday wrappings, tree decorations and the aromas of family dishes passed down through generations.

I hope this was a pleasant way to unwrap your writer’s voice.

Praying your Christmas is blessed beyond measure and that you, dear writer, find peace and hope among the most beautiful words ever penned…”for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (KJV)

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Developing Your Writer's Voice

How A Dinosaur Can Help Your Writer’s Voice

tyrannosaurus-855188_1280Is it possible for a dinosaur of technology to help define your writer’s voice? I say yes and say it with gusto!

First, I admit I’m old-fashioned in many areas of my life but there is one dinosaur in my writer’s toolbox that I use often on my writing journey—a tape recorder. While writing my first novella I recorded every chapter. Oh, the mistakes I discovered listening to those tapes. I would hate to see the total times I used my weasel word just per page. I also heard far too many sentences beginning with I.

The main reason I taped the chapters was to check if my writer’s voice was consistent. My books are set in Appalachia and a slip from my character’s voice and my writer’s voice are very evident. I plan to continue to use this device with each of my writing endeavors. I feel new writers in search of their voice will benefit greatly from this practice.

A lot of writers use digital voice recorders. These recorders are small enough for them to carry anywhere, allowing them to quickly record a thought, character name and profile, a plot point or location for a story. Now with smart phone apps, the digital recorder, I’ve been told, is threatened with extinction.

I have a digital voice recorder, and was recently given a smart phone, but my dinosaur-like recorder will continue to sit on my desk, ready for, if only in my mind, my next masterpiece.

“Technology presumes there’s just one right way to do things and there never is.”  Robert Pirzig

Do you have a favorite form of technology that you use to record your work? If so, please share in the comment section.

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Developing Your Writer's Voice Uncategorized

How Your Diary Holds the Key in Discovering Your Writer’s Style

Graphic Courtesy of Keep.comA writer’s voice is the unique personality of the writer that comes through on the written page, defining his work. An often-asked question is whether a writer’s style is the same thing as his voice. The answer is no.

A writer’s style is the way in which he structures sentences; the pattern in which his words are written. Components of style are the length of the sentences, diction, tone and length of paragraphs.

A somewhat surprising tool for discovering your writer’s voice and style is your juvenile diary. Below are two examples of these early writings; exaggerated here for style comparison.

Stark

Diary, yesterday I went to the mall. I bought a dress. Mary was there.

Ornate

Dearest Diary,

I ventured to the mall in the last light of the day. I purchased a dress with a gossamer over-skirt that will make Robbie compare me to a princess. I will sit his picture on my bedside table and hopefully dream of him until dawn breaks.

The writer’s style was different in each example. The stark example’s sentences are simple and sparse. The ornate example has long, flowing sentences.

Do you have your teenage diary, the one you kept under lock and key? If so, take a trip down memory lane with the  distinct purpose of discovering your writer’s style. This early diary was unedited which allowed your authentic writer’s voice to shine through.

If you don’t have your treasured diary, compare a piece you wrote a year ago to a recent effort. Does a pattern emerge…do you recognize your writing style?

“The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is the most valuable investment a writer can make with his time.” Raymond Chandler

 

Image courtesy of www.keep.com

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Uncategorized

Brother, Lend Me Your Ear

133146861_775d613447At a writer’s conference, a contest judge once shared with me that he could pick my voice out of numerous entries. “You write like you are talking to a friend,” he said.

If you are searching for your writer’s voice and are feeling the search will never end, I have a couple of suggestions that might simplify your quest based on the contest judge’s comment to me.

Imagine your best friend is listening to you as your story pours from your heart onto paper. With this technique your passion will flow with ease. Friends share both their happy times and seasons of sorrow without reservation.

After I shared this advice at a workshop, I received an email from an attendee.

“I pulled a comfortable chair in front of my desk and imagined my best friend was sitting there, waiting for my every word. As I wrote the beginning of my novel I would glance at the chair and speak a few words of novel dialogue to the ghost-image. The dialogue came easy and I was able to write the first chapter in record time.”

Another tip: I often ask other writers to listen as I read a passage from my work-in-progress to see if my voice is coming through loud and clear and if they can hear my heart.

“Always listen to your heart, because even though it’s on your left side, it’s always right.” – Nicholas Sparks

When reading my work out loud to others I often catch mistakes such as which sentences are awkward, repetitiveness or if the tone is incorrect.

Still searching for your writer’s voice? Try giving the friend-in-chair technique and reading your work aloud to others a try.

Do you have a suggestion for finding the writer’s voice? If so, please share in the comments section.

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Developing Your Writer's Voice

How Passion Influences Your Voice

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”

– William Wordsworth

The breathings of our heart, our passion, dwell in the deep places of our soul. It is from this passion in which we write—in which we find our voice.

Passion is defined as, “the intense enthusiasm you feel for something.”

Do you feel intense enthusiasm when you write? If so, then your voice will eventually begin to emerge when your pen hits paper.

Delve deep and see what ignites a spark, what causes your heart to leap. Out of this soul-searching you will then write from your characters soul; feel the character’s hurt; rejoice in their happiness—sense their fears—then write from that place.

We can’t always write what we love, what we are passionate about, but we can love the art of writing. Even shaping words into a technical article can bring us a sense of satisfaction.

Use the exercise below to see if your passion is easily recognizable.

Pick a subject that is meaningful to you and write a short piece on this topic. Don’t hold back, dive into the soul’s well and then set the piece aside for several days. Ask these questions after reading:

  1. Would a reader find my passion evident? Was an emotional tug felt, a sense of indignation, did joy shine forth?
  1. Did I get caught up in the skill of writing? Did my concentration on writing skill suppress my words thus stifling my passion?
  1. Did I follow a story formula? Did the formula keep my words from flowing freely?

Did your passion resonate? If not, rewrite, keeping in mind the above questions.

Your writer’s voice will benefit from Terri Guillemets’s advice: Renew your passions daily.

What’s one way you renew your passion daily?

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Developing Your Writer's Voice

One Way to Discover Your Writer’s Voice

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“Do you have a unique voice?”

It’s one question agents and editors often ask writers during one-on-one interviews at conferences.

A “deer caught in the headlights” look passes over newbie’s faces while their tongues cling to the roof of their mouths. “Voice, what do you mean by voice?”

It’s been said that finding and developing one’s writer voice is at the top of the list of things aspiring writers find most intimidating.

There are many definitions of what constitutes a writer’s voice. I believe it’s a combination of syntax, style, dialogue, diction and tone. It is the very essence of you that springs forth from the pages.

[bctt tweet=””Do you have a unique voice?” #amwriting #author #novel” via=”no”]

My writer’s voice came quickly, which was not the case for the bane of my existence—the matter of show versus tell. We all have issues!

Each post I’ll share a tip on developing your writer’s voice along with advice I’ve gleaned over the years from seasoned wordsmiths. Hopefully, tackling this issue in small bites will make it easier to digest.

Today’s tip: Read. Read a lot. When you find new authors or revisit old favorites, try to determine what drew you into their story world. Listen for their voice. Read other books written by them to determine if you would know it was their writing, their voice, without seeing the writer’s names. This lesson might seem elementary but trust me; it will be a helpful exercise.

Consider this post for a moment. What is the voice of this post? What is its personality? Is it cozy, formal, or aloof?

Please leave comments concerning your struggles with voice with suggestions of how this blog can best serve you in the comment section.

I hope you come back to visit often.