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| voice by P0RG on deviantART |
I love snark. I love dry humor. The Princess Bride is one of the best written movies of all time. ALL TIME. But when I try to write like that, it falls completely flat. I see all these great queries, with snarky heroines and all kinds of voice. My heroines aren't snarky. They aren't witty or clever.
Now, my friend and critique partner Megan can write snark. Her characters are funny and sincere and say things like "full of sheet." I like to call her manuscript "fantastical snark." I love it. I love it, I love it, I love it.
Me? I write things that are beautiful but dark. I write sweet romances and creepy villains. I wish I could write like Megan. She tells me she wishes she could write like me.
I'm glad we each write in our own voices. There's something magical about natural voice. When you read something that jumps off the page and takes you to someplace you can't go on your own. You can't fake that. You can't force yourself to write like someone else. It will always sound false. So don't worry about writing like someone else. Find your voice and let it shine.
So much love to this post, you have no idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm still in the process of finding my own voice, my own writing style. There are a lot of authors that I yearn to emulate -- but I'm slowly realizing that I can't ever write like they do because because that isn't how my voice is shaping up to be. :)
*bursts into tears*
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I know this goes against your point, but I just freaking adore your writing. I'd live to have just a TINY bit of your beautiful style. But you and Leigh Ann are helping me to appreciate mine too, I think. Mostly. :)
I can't wait to read all of your books. ALL THE BOOKS! I love your little CP group and I love that we all connected on twitter and such. The writing world rocks and this post is a perfect example of just how much. Love you girls!
ReplyDeleteLove this! so much!
ReplyDeleteThis is so very true! I struggled with trying to sound like other authors, but my work took off when I concentrated on my voice instead! Great post!
ReplyDeleteI was JUST talking to Erica about this. It's amazing how I can compare you guys to famous authors, and they're all different - all of your voices are AMAZING but they each have different - and very CLEAR - strengths.
ReplyDeleteLike, yeah, I wish I could write beautiful lyrical prose like you can, but if Mer talked like that you all would be like..."Um...is Mer high today?" My characters need my voice and yours need yours. THat's why this is all so FUN!
Beautiful post, honey. And you're right about Megan. SO. GOOD.
Yes, Jenny, you do write beautifully. So keep it up. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It's so easy to doubt yourself and to compare your voice to others.
ReplyDeleteYeah!!!! *wonders what her voice superpower is...*
ReplyDeleteWhen did you get a look inside my head? I wish I could write snark too. Great post. Sometimes its hard to find the poetry in my voice when I have such talented friends, you among them. :D But what a wonderful patchwork of stories we make together. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteMisfits has me revisiting posts today!
ReplyDeleteThis is a good point pretty much always. I keep telling myself someday I'll shake my epic, dark plotlines in exchange for, like, whimsical stuff, but maybe that's just not my bag.