F is for "Favorites"
I'm notoriously difficult to please. So every time I read a new book, I hold it to impossibly high standards. Five star books are rare.
Some of my five-star books are:
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
Set in Puritan New England, this novel read even better the second time around.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
A retelling of the story of Dracula with a historical twist, this book was a complete surprise for me.
Phantom by Susan Kay
A retelling of The Phantom of the Opera, this is a much more intimate view of the Phantom and how he becomes the maniacal killer he is. Well worth the read.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
I love this book for the intricate plot. There are so many character to keep track of, and so many subplots, but everything comes together in the end to create a beautifully crafted read.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Given the subject matter and the narrator, I didn't expect to like this book at all. I wanted to read it because it was famous, and I'm glad I did. I found the prose quite evocative.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
If you haven't read this book, the twist in the end is what clinches the deal for me. I'm not a romance reader by any means, but the romantic storyline in this novel strikes a chord with me every time.
These are a few of my absolute favorite books. What are some of yours?
~I.E.
Day 1: Absolution
Day 2: Biography
Day 3: Confidence
Day 4: Daphne
Day 5: Exposition
Voice is something that I rarely think about when writing. And, to some extent, I think that is okay. For voice is not something that can be forced, but is something that is naturally developed over time. Of course, I speak of writing fiction, where a voice can be anything you want it to be.
When I say "voice", I mean the myriad of personality, tone and story which is conveyed through your writing. If non-fiction, you'd probably want something matter-of-fact, informational. Fiction, however, is full of opportunity to develop voice to its fullest extent. Voice is what makes a reader come back to the same author over and over again. Voice draws the reader in and helps make a connection between character, reader and author.
So how do you find your voice?
Voice can vary from one piece to the next. The voice of a character may overshadow the voice of the author in fiction. In some cases, it should (think of close first person narrative, Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games). In others, it may not (think third person omniscient, Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities). However, there is always a voice in piece of writing. If The Hunger Games were written in third person omniscient, it would have an entirely different voice, even if still written by Suzanne Collins. If A Tale of Two Cities were written in first person narrative from one (or many) of the character's perspectives, the novel would read quite differently. Not necessarily worse, not necessarily better. Just different. Point of view shifts can affect voice, and that's something to keep in mind for your novel.
To find my voice for a novel, I like to take the main character I'm working with and freewrite from that character's perspective. Ask the character a question and have them start to talk. Don't interrupt them, just write what they tell you. It sounds crazy, but you'll discover a lot of useful things about them and the direction your story can go. Their voice will bleed through, mingle with yours and you will discover a possible voice for that novel. This voice is at once yours and the character's.
And that's what you want--a voice that is specific to both you as an author, and the character you've created.
