Inside Joke IV? VI? IVI?
MaryAnne always exploits a weakness. Awright fine, I can’t count past “III” in Roman numerals. Some would argue I can’t count past three in any format. Be that as it may, it’s now time for more senseless prattle. It’ll keep my mind off of the fact my guys are outnumbered three to one in the story, per the Depu-odds.
Ya know, I’ve written both pointlessly and pointedly over the years, but there’s one thing I’ve got goin’ for me. I have found my voice. Or you could say, ah’ve found mah voice. Had it for awhile, now, got it on the cheap.
There’s much ado in writing classes about “finding your muse, finding your voice.” To lapse into an example, this is one thang ah’ve nevah struggled with. Instead, I struggle with everything else, like how to friggin’ count past three.
Recently I found another how-to guide on writing that said more o’ the same. Find yer voice!! A quote follows:
“Voice isn’t merely style. Style would be easy by comparison. Style is watching your use of adjectives and doing a few flashy things with alliteration. Style without voice is hollow. Voice is style, plus theme, plus personal observations, plus passion, plus belief, plus desire. Voice is bleeding onto the page, and it can be a powerful, frightening, naked experience.”
Waaaaait a minute….bleeding on to the page?! Bleeding!? Ok, I’ve done that in a couple stories, but I had no idea it was a requirement! Gaaaah…..
The naked experience could be interesting. Hey, MaryAnne!! You had yer naked experience yet? Bahahaha —
Ahem! Before I get myself shot in said story, let’s see what else this writer-teacher has to say…
“Your voice does not exist in the thin and cheap places of your heart or the shallow end of your soul. Voice lives in the deep waters and the dark places of your soul, and it will only venture out when you make sure you’ve given it space to move and room to breathe.”
Ooo. Deep waters and dark places of the soul. I got that covered.
Here’s a bit that outta encourage me and MaryAnne, as well as you other aspiring folk:
“When you’re finding your voice, you’re going to be doing a lot of experimenting. Some of what you write, frankly, is going to be lousy. Some of it will shock you with how good you really are. But the only way you’ll get any of the good stuff is if you allow yourself to put whatever comes into your head down on the page without demanding salable prose of yourself. This isn’t the time to be shooting for commercial viability.”
I’d like to add to all that, the value of co-authoring. Having a writing buddy is priceless. I would not have the voice I have today ( Lah lah lah LAAAAH lah lah laaaah!) if it wasn’t for MaryAnne. Enemy, to advesary, to friend and cousin.
And so it’s appropriate, that again I face a crossroads in a story where a choice must be made, a path must be taken, and it all goes on the line. No reset button. No free throw. No instant replay.
Gah.
