Tracey Lee Writes

Your voice is what sets your writing apart from everyone else. When you pick up a book by Terry Pratchett, you know you’re reading Pratchett. When Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time was left unfinished after his death, someone had to be found to finish the final volume. The publishers couldn’t let just anyone write that book; they had to find someone who could do the work justice and make it sound like Jordan had written it.

If Neil Gammon or Judy Blume had taken pen to paper and finished the work using their own style, their own voice, the novels would have sounded off. Take a scene written in the style of Gammon; it might read something like this:

Egwene sat in the dimly lit room, shadows dancing on the walls. The diary felt heavy in her hands, a vessel for secrets untold. “Today, I touched the One Power,” she penned, the ink flowing like dark magic. The air crackled with potential, and a whisper of destiny brushed her ear.

And now that same scene was rewritten in a voice something like Blume’s:

Egwene sat on the edge of her bed, diary in hand. “Dear Diary,” she wrote, “today I learned I can channel the One Power. It’s like discovering a secret superpower! But what if my friends find out? Will they still like me?” She sighed, feeling both excited and scared.

And just for funsies, let’s try it in the voice of Pratchett:

Egwene sat on the edge of her bed, diary in hand, pondering the peculiarities of life. “Dear Diary,” she scribbled, “today I discovered I can channel the One Power. It’s like finding out you’re the only one who can see the color octarine. What a lark! But what if the others find out? Will they think I’ve gone barmy?” She sighed, feeling a mix of trepidation and a dash of excitement, much like a witch who’d accidentally brewed a potion for invisibility but forgot where she put it.

Each paragraph has a distinct narrative style. The word choices, sentence lengths, metaphors, and sensory details differ from one author to the next, but all of this comes together to form that author’s unique voice.

When Brandon Sanderson was tasked with completing the series, he had to use Jordan’s voice.

To find your voice as a writer, I encourage you to hone the following skills:

• Indulge in a vast, varied pool of literature. Venture beyond your comfort zone, exploring non-fiction, fiction, and dive into genres you’ve never considered. Let the joy of discovery fuel your reading journey.
• Read critically, dissecting the nuances of what you read. This approach will empower you with a deeper understanding of the craft.
• Take note of words, turns of phrase, and the style of the prose that capture your attention, not just the ones you love; also, note anything that jars your sensibilities.
• Take note of the textual features, style, punctuation, tense and point of view. This will help you develop a keen eye for detail in your writing.
• What are other people in your genre doing? What sets each of them apart?
• “Eavesdrop” on social media, wherever fans of your genre hang out. Listen to the conversations: what do they love about the genre, what do they hate, and what do they want to see someone write about?
• Contribute to the conversations with fellow authors and fans. Establish credibility and confidence in your field.
• Avoid using cliches and broad, sweeping generalisations in your writing.
• Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Remember, 90% of writing is rewriting. Embrace this process, as it is a crucial part of the writing journey.

The more you learn about writing, the more confident you’ll become. This knowledge and confidence will shine through in your work, giving it a unique voice that will evolve as you progress.