Comments on: Starting something new (part 2): the voice

By: Katina Wright

Katina Wright — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:31:24 +0000

Exciting to know that you’re working on a new project.

As an author in training I’m sure I can’t give you advice. But what I did with the novel I’m writing at the moment is write journals from two of the main characters POV. I couldn’t decide which character’s POV to write the novel from. As it turned out I needed both character’s POV to make the story work. Writing their journals for them really helped me get to know them & their voices.

Kat

By: solv

solv — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:30:17 +0000

I’d reason that the plot is a functional device, designed to set up dynamism, predominantly points of emotional revelations. But the reader is fed the emotions through any given pov. (Re-reading Ali Smith’s ‘The Accidental’ in which the same story is recounted by five separate povs, ergo five different emotional experiences.)
If we’re teetering on the precipice of the plot vs character debate, I’d agree with Bob McKee, that the two are inextricably linked. One informs, the other delivers. That said, I think a great voice with little plot to draw from would likely be more successful that a great plot experienced through a weak pov.
Great question MG. My answer is: Voice comes first, and then voice and plot are perfectly married in second pass. Picking a pov should be a technical decision, because each pov has its own strengths and weaknesses. You want character depth, you’re in first; you want free reign plotting suspense, then maybe third omniscient. And then tense! So what do you want? Where do you fancy exploring next? )

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:19:53 +0000

A fascinating post Maria – I’m finding these writing ones of yours particularly interesting. This is one I can really relate to – it took me several aborted starts to finally fing the voice of the MC in my new WIP but once that fell into place then I was away!

I’m looking forward to seeing what this new idea of yours develops into!!

By: MG

MG — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:17:14 +0000

Rich – an intervention, or else may I suggest that your heart isn’t in it? Maybe it’s time to play with something new…something that gets you going? The work re other thing not wasted, it’s always good to have some projects in the lab to resurrect later When The Time Is Right.

Susie, ooh goody, I look forward to hearing about Possible New Book! And the side project too…

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:01:09 +0000

Ooh, so exciting to hear it’s progressed to that stage! (Clearly you are doing write-one-edit-one-think-up-new-one: impressive! I’m sticking with drink-one-eat-one-write-one-sentence at the minute. I refer to tea and sandwiches of course.)

I think I get 80% of the voice sorted in the first few weeks of writing 1st person (albeit after masses of false starts), because my focus is much more on voice than on story – but sometimes that final 20% is what really makes the whole thing work, and that comes in the edit. I’m putting together the opening few thousand of Possible New Book right now, and getting the voice right is what’s going to make it work. No pressure then…

Then again, I’m doing exactly the same thing as you with a side project: have played with some 1st person, now some 3rd person intimate, which already feels like a better fit for the story. I’m so out of practice though!

Being on a massive story-roll sounds great. Go Joshua4!

By: Richard Howse

Richard Howse — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:58:23 +0000

Took me 10 months to get the opening chapters, with viewpoint, voice and style right.

And I’m still there another 3 months on (having done nothing – oops). I think I need an intervention.