CHOOSING YOUR VOICE
Why does Hemingway sound like Hemingway? Faulkner like only Faulkner?
Why do no other fictional characters sound like Mike Hammer? Rip Van Winkle? Huckleberry
Finn? Young Goodman Brown?
Answer: VOICE
Every strong author has a distinctive voice
Every well-drawn narrator has a unique voice
Every successful main character has a voice that sets him/her apart from all other
characters -- a voice that reveals the character's personality and allows readers to
understand and care about him/her.
CHOOSING YOUR VOICE examines the differences between the authorial and narrative
voices and shows you how to pick the voice that will work best for each piece
you write. It will also show you how to give your characters voices that sound
real, that make readers feel they know and understand each character and that
gets them deeply involved in your character's fate
4-week classes begin the first Friday of each month - or take it as a One-on-One giving you 8 weeks to finish and begin immediately upon registration
Week 1: What Voice is and what it does
Week 2: How the Narrator's Voice informs your readers
Week 3: The Elements of Voice
Week 4: How to Develop YOUR Voice
Student Comments:
"I'm a southern girl and I like to tell stories. That was my problem: telling, not
showing. My narrators tended to go on and on, and my stories were losing momentum while
they droned. This class helped me recognize my problem and showed me how to get some life
and energy back into my stories. Now my dialogue really sizzles, my characters are alive
and well, and my narrators stay where they belong."
"Thanks. This has been a blast!" JeanneL1@aol.com
"I have to tell you that your lessons are so complee and straightforward that I have become excited about my project again...ahhhh, I'm drowning!!!! But loving every minute of it. Your book is wonderful. Thank you so much."
"This was a challenging course yet lots of fun. I guess I like a curve ball thrown at me and this time I caught the ball. I was very happy with the course -- most informative and instructive. You're a very organized teacher and I enjoyed your teaching style. I plan to take another of your courses."
"This course has been great - very useful to me. The lessons were not confusing and your book and tapes are excellent and helpful with this course. I can't think of anything I didn't like about it. Thanks you!
Thought for the day: The modem is the message