Good post, Mallary. I think literary agents confuse the heck out of us writers when they say it’s the voice that captures their interest in a MS. We see that and we all scurry looking for the thing agents want in our own works. Readers don’t think of voice, they want characters with depth, with something to say or do even after being beaten down, they want conflict. Mushy characters kill a reader’s interest. I’d say write, write, write, with these in your stories and the writer will look back and say, “Oh, yeah, my stuff has voice. I see it now.”
These are great examples! The punctuation tip reminds me of Elizabeth Strout and her exclamation marks. Also Joan Acocella, a great stylist whose critical essays in the New Yorker I have missed since her death. I can't find a specific example right now, but I remember many instances of feeling totally disarmed by her sudden use of "you" or turn to the command mode. She's the kind of writer brave enough to begin a review of a dance performance with a phrase like, "Imagine you are Marie Antoinette." I love that chutzpah.
Love your tips and excellent examples, Mallory. I struggle with the universal you. As a prof who taught online to grad students older than myself and who resented ‘command’ I began to use we. And it’s become such my voice now. I struggle in my writing! You’re giving me the confidence to go back to you.
Good post, Mallary. I think literary agents confuse the heck out of us writers when they say it’s the voice that captures their interest in a MS. We see that and we all scurry looking for the thing agents want in our own works. Readers don’t think of voice, they want characters with depth, with something to say or do even after being beaten down, they want conflict. Mushy characters kill a reader’s interest. I’d say write, write, write, with these in your stories and the writer will look back and say, “Oh, yeah, my stuff has voice. I see it now.”
I agree with you, Geoff. Thanks for sharing!
These are great examples! The punctuation tip reminds me of Elizabeth Strout and her exclamation marks. Also Joan Acocella, a great stylist whose critical essays in the New Yorker I have missed since her death. I can't find a specific example right now, but I remember many instances of feeling totally disarmed by her sudden use of "you" or turn to the command mode. She's the kind of writer brave enough to begin a review of a dance performance with a phrase like, "Imagine you are Marie Antoinette." I love that chutzpah.
Love this! I will have to go back and read some of Joan's essays!
Thanks for sharing these tips, Mallary!
Thank you for reading them!
Love your tips and excellent examples, Mallory. I struggle with the universal you. As a prof who taught online to grad students older than myself and who resented ‘command’ I began to use we. And it’s become such my voice now. I struggle in my writing! You’re giving me the confidence to go back to you.
Thanks so much, Anita. I'm glad these posts are giving you confidence!