SWRT 232 | Voice

December 9, 2021

person typing on MacBook Pro on brown wooden table during daytime photo

Alida, Robert, & Kathryn use our voices this week to talk about voice. Not the spoken kind, but the written. What is an author’s voice? Does it just happen or is it crafted? How does narrative voice used with character voice? What about a character whose voice does not fit with the narrative? Can that still work? And more this week on the Story Works Round Table.

Alida is offering group coaching to novel writers starting in February 2022. Follow for details and to secure your spot at the table!

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

What we talked about:

Why are we talking about voice? (0:30)

Voice is the narrator’s point of view. (1:40)

It’s all about the style. (2:20)

Why should your voice be consistent? (3:45)

You can’t avoid having a voice. (5:25)

Voice is all about artistry. (8:00)

So how do we craft voice? What difference does it make? (8:55)

How do you become consciously aware of your voice? (24:35)

How can you use your unconscious mind? (27:55)

LINKS

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

Things we mentioned:

The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.

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About Your Hosts

Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Three times nominated for the Pushcart Prize, she is also a notable in Best American Essays and winner of the Page Turner Award. Author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series, Alida lives and writes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.

Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.

Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com