In a sea of books, it is getting increasingly more difficult to differentiate yourself from the thousands of other writers, all striving for readers and sales. But, if we as writers are to succeed, this is exactly what we must do. The mechanics of writing and crafting a good book are universal and a writer must work within that framework to create books that are unique to that author while exhibiting strong storylines and characters.
For me, it has been all about retaining my personal voice. You know…the one that speaks inside your head as you lay down the words. Can you not hear the characters speak? Do you not know what they will do next in a given situation? If not, then you need to find that distinctive voice that is solely yours. My characters push me around a lot and insist on getting their way. Most of the time, they win.
The thing that will make your characters speak and act in a unique way is they are speaking and acting through your own personal filters. If you are truly authentic, you will find pieces of yourself and people you are close to scattered throughout your stories. This is the key factor in making your writing sound or feel different to a reader. There is only one of you. You bring all your experiences and knowledge to the books and no one else has lived your life and thought your thoughts.
I caution you about imitating your favorite authors in an attempt to reproduce their success. This almost never works and those authors will be the first to tell you that. They became who they are by writing in a distinctive voice that the readers recognize and return to over and over again to experience.
Personally, I have refrained from taking a lot of writing courses that would influence my voice and cause me to question everything I do. I prefer not to always wonder…am I doing this right?
I have also refused to give out my books to a lot of alpha readers or other authors prior to publication. Once you do that, you may find it difficult to square their comments and suggestions with what you feel is authentic to you. You may stray from your voice in order to comply with what they think you should do. Stay clean mentally and avoid confusion. That methodology has worked best for me. I know this is not the only way to go about writing, but these rules have helped retain my originality and continue to hear the voice in my head that is truly my own.
There is an abundance of authors out there clamoring to imitate writers who are successful and many of the books I read are similar in style and voice. The ones I remember and enjoy most, have a style and feel that I know is only found in that writer’s imaginings. They are usually the most successful ones.
So…clear your mind, keep your writer’s voice strong in your mind, and for better or worse, write what that voice says to you. If you’re lucky…they will show you how to be a great writer.
Larry Hamilton
Author of The Atlantis Codes and Critical Mass
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