2016 – Almost An Author

Writer’s Voice Questions Answered for 2016

I’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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

3 Questions to Ask When Setting Your 2016 Writing Goals

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible to the visible.” -Tony Robbins

Whether you’re a natural goal setter or not, the benefits of doing so are undeniable. Below are three questions to consider as you set your writing goals for 2016:

What is my why? Are you writing to earn money? To pursue a dream? Leave a legacy? Or simply for enjoyment? It’s different for everyone and thankfully, one is not better than another. Take some time in January to consider your why. It’s the foundation of your writing goals as it helps steer your expectations, time, and energy towards the results you truly desire. Write your why down and keep it visible wherever you choose to write.
How will I measure my goals? Once you’ve nailed down your why, focus on writing out specific goals to achieve it — but don’t stop there! Determine how you will measure your goals. Vague goals are useless ones. If you want to write more, what steps are you willing to take to make it happen? Do you need to set aside office hours in order to write “x” amount of hours per week? Do you need to decrease blog posts or other publications in order to pursue your why? Do you want to travel more? How could you begin saving money? Write it down!
Will you call yourself a writer? I admit it. The first time those four words—I am a writer—spilled from my lips I wasn’t sure whether to zig zag to avoid the lightening bolt or to choose to believe it myself, refusing to feel the pressure of validating my declaration. I chose the latter and it’s made all the difference. I’ll let this excerpt from Story Engineering, by Larry Brooks sum it up for us all:

We are lucky. Very lucky. We are writers.

Sometimes that may seem more curse than blessing, and others may not regard what we do with any more esteem or respect than mowing a lawn. To an outsider this can appear to be a hobby, or maybe a dream that eludes most.

But if that’s how they view you, they aren’t paying enough attention. If you are a writer–and you are if you actually write–you are already living the dream. Because the primary reward of writing comes from within, and you don’t need to get published or sell your screenplay to access it. …

Whatever we write, we are reaching out. We are declaring that we are not alone on this planet, and that we have something to share, something to say. Our writing survives us, even if nobody ever reads a word of it. Because we have given back, we have reflected our truth. We have mattered.

Now let’s go make 2016 one of our best…from one writer to another.

Which of the three questions will be your most challenging, and why?