The six words in the image are Qualities of a writer’s Voice.
Like most concepts in writing, “Voice” is somewhat slippery…
Are we talking about some “feel” we get from every sentence a writer uses?
Are we talking only about the 3rd person P.O.V.—since individual characters could well have completely distinct voices?
That image of Voice Qualities is a screen-shot from the video below…
Julian Treasure is the man speaking (he’ll explain each Voice Quality) and he’s talking about the voice we use when we speak.
But here comes more of that slipperiness I mentioned up there:
“The action or an act of uttering with the voice” is a definition of the word “Utterance“.
Another definition of that same word is “That which is uttered or expressed in words….written statement or expression”.
Here’s another screen-shot from the video:
These are what Julian says we should avoid when we speak, if we want others to pay attention…
I feel these six Qualities should be avoided at all costs in a writer’s 3rd person P.O.V. [though, every “rule” can (and will, eventually) be broken]; plus, certain characters in a story may manifest these qualities with great force…
Some of you may be doubting my sanity in relating these concepts to the craft of writing…
Yet I am a writer and I find using the tool of Analogical Comparison, applied to other arts, is a valuable source of learning in my art—painting and music are also great for this creative-borrowing of tools…
The last screen-shot from the video shows what I’ll call Inner Qualities of Writing.
These are what I feel a writer would do well to develop in their private Relationship with their Readers…
This borrowing from the art of speaking-so-others-pay-attention may strain your ability to use Analogical Comparison; but, give it a try—Mr. Treasure will help you in the video…
By the way, if you think “analogy” and “comparison” are just two words for the same thing, try considering the phrase, Poetical Comparison; or, Imaginary Comparison—and, yes, I’m being slippery with words—but, then, I am a writer :-)
And, if you absolutely can’t relate to my Slippery Analogical Comparisons, you may just find yourself having to use your physical voice in a situation where it critically matters that others want to pay attention………
Enjoy The Video—this man truly practices what he preaches…
“Grammar-wise, it’s simpler. There is less room for error as far as grammar and punctuation are concerned when your write simply…
“Less room for misinterpretation and confusion….I like how my simple sentences lend themselves with little toil on my part to clarity.
“My third person narrator doesn’t draw attention away from the characters….Thanks to plain sentences, the structure of my narration doesn’t lend itself to remarks or contemplations.
“I can write a first draft of a paragraph without worrying about style….I keep it plain and I keep moving.
“I don’t feel pretentious.…If I tried to force embellishments, I would feel uncomfortable and pretentious…”
“For you, writing is a bit like painting with words….You take risks with words, and that thrill is what keeps you writing.
“You draw connections between things that writers like me can’t think to….Your metaphors and similes connect objects people wouldn’t normally put together.
“You are able to paint a clear image of your characters and their world for your readers….You…don’t have to worry about how your reader might interpret…You tell them what’s there.
“You see the value in the grunt work of writing. In its foundations….Sentences aren’t building blocks or work for you; they’re a puzzle to fit together.”
So…
Which kind of writer are you?
Simple?
Ornate?
Both??
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Writing Styles = the various methods employed to get the words on the page and properly ordered; including but not limited to meticulous outlining, character charts and maps, location dossiers, stacks of various sizes of paper notes (or more loosely scattered groupings), moderately expensive notebooks, computer files in various formats, sophisticated computer programs, and working-it-all-out-in-the-mind-then-letting-it-spill-out-like-blood.
Work Patterns = the various and sundry patterns of behavior that different writers use to accomplish their writing goals; including but not limited to word-counts/unit time, something written every day, whenever the mood is right, and whenever-I-damn-well-please-thank-you-very-much.
Lack of Guilt = absence of indictability, pauperization of impeachability, and shortage of self-reproof.
Now the Game :-)
1. Choose the Writing Style and Work Pattern that matches your own (if you’re not a writer you may find benefit in pretending you are. Many writers are good at pretending.)
2. If your Writing Style and Work Pattern are not in the definitions please consider letting us know what they are in this post’s comments.
3. Use any old method of analysis you have handy to assess how well you achieve Lack of Guilt by applying your Writing Style and Work Pattern to the Goal of Producing Written Works–including but not limited to any-genre (or, non-genre)-you-can-imagine…
This Exercise Was Brought To You By TWBWWUADTBABTSL The Writing Bloggers Who Wake Up And Decide They’ve Been A Bit Too Serious Lately Association
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First, a few “definitions”:
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Notes from An Alien 