Finding Your Voice

When we use the term “the writer's voice”, we are often attempting to describe the unique and very individual writing style of an author. Although this term is used a lot, very few people truly understand what this voice is made up of, and more importantly, the quickest and most effective way to develop it. Voice is generally considered to be a combination of a writer’s use of syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc., within a given body of text (or across several works), and can also be thought of in terms of the uniqueness of a musical instrument, like a trumpet or cello, with its own timbre, range and character. In truth, the writer’s voice is the innate organic storytelling technique we all carry. It is a combination of all of the above, but much, much more and includes the sum of our worldview and experiential relationship to the world. In this workshop, we will consider the elements of voice and hone our own in the process. [Note: You will be asked to submit a short piece of fiction, no longer than five pages (no excerpts from longer works, must be an original), in Times New Roman 12 font, double-spaced, after you register.]