Creative Voice for Creative Writing

Creative Voice for Creative Writing

"Authors must find a "voice" for each of their characters that is believable, appropriate, and consistent." 
(Wiehardt, 2017 para 7)

The voice of a narrative includes many different devices and techniques to give it life. Syntax, diction, dialogue, tone, and pacing are all techniques used by writers to bring their narratives to life.

Everyone has a different voice. Not just vocally but when writing as well. It is unique to the author and shines through the soup of words and worlds to give the readers a little of the author. It distinguishes one author from another. Voice gives meaning to the words.

An author's style, quality that makes writing unique, that conveys the author's attitude, personality and character falls under voice.
It is the characteristic speech and thought patterns of the narrator of fiction. Voice has much to do with reader's experience of literature, and is one of the most important elements of writing. (Wiehardt, 2017 para 2)

How can voice be applied to narratives? How is it done?

There are many ways to breath voice into a narrative. It can be through themes, metaphors, and arrangement. Through adverbs, adjectives, descriptive language and even conjunctions.

Photo by BdwayDiva1 (creative commons). Adapted by The Write Practice. Used by Alicia Glasson 2017.

Task 2

For task 2, as in task 1, students will be asked to look at the narrative,"Inevitable Death" by Tifany Nguyen, Californa, USA. In pairs they will discuss each element of narrative voice gaining knowledge in these elements. They will then search through the narrative to find these elements making annotation where each of them are. Using the example of edited narrative: "Inevitable Death" by Tifany Nguyen, they can gain knowledge of what could be found in the narrative. The class will then have a discussion, grouping all their ideas about narrative voice into one discussion. Students are then asked to take out the elements of narrative voice and view what is left and make their own conclusions as to why it is important to have voice in a creative narrative.

In the edited copy of this narrative, I have used the following to illuminate the elements in which I would like students to focus on:

Green highlighter for adverbs.
Red highlighter for adjectives.
Blue pen for descriptive language.
Green pen for metaphors.

Wiehardt, G. (2017). Voice in Fiction Writing. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-voice-in-fiction-writing-1277142

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