Every once in awhile, an article pertaining to writing
stands out and speaks to my heart in a special way. Today is one of those days. I’ve enjoyed and respected Siri Mitchell’s work for some time. And I was both challenged and encouraged by her words today. Enjoy!
~ Dawn
Finding Your Voice
by Siri Mitchell
If you want to write a novel, you can enroll in
all kinds of conferences, and workshops, and classes on how to do it. But
there’s one thing that no one can help you with. And if you can’t figure out that
one thing, you’ll never be able to sell a book...even if you have the perfectly
crafted plot and exquisitely drawn characters. That one thing is voice. If you
don’t have voice, you don’t have anything.
A novelist’s voice is what distinguishes her
work from everyone else’s. Sometimes it can take a long time to find. The
problem with writing, as in so many things, is that there’s a learning process
to go through. Lots of writers start out by, well...writing. Once they overcome
a fear of criticism, they take that writing to a critique group or workshop.
They grit their teeth, get feedback, cry some tears, screw up their courage and
make the suggested changes. Then they take it back to the critique group or
workshop. And repeat the process. Again and again and again. But what happens
when it’s time to send the piece out on query? There’s nothing vital left in
it. Though it might not break any rules and it might be just what everyone’s
looking for, it has no personality, no unique voice. It’s all been edited out.
A writer’s voice is never really created. It can
be developed of course, but first it has to be found. The problem with voice is
that it requires something of the author. Actually, it requires everything. You
have to make sacrifices in order to grab hold of your voice. You have to stand
apart from your critique group, check out of your workshops, and figure out for
yourself what you as an individual have to say to the world. And not only that,
but then you have to insist that your words have the right to be heard.
What is your voice trying to say? More
importantly, do you have the courage to say it? Even if it seems like no one
wants to hear it?
God made you in his image. He had something in
mind when he created you. Be encouraged by the words God says to you. “My dove
is hiding behind some rocks, behind an outcrop on the cliff. Let me see you;
let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and you are lovely.” (Song
of Solomon 2:14)
You’ve been working on your craft. You’ve been
learning about structure, you’ve studied all the rules. Don’t you think it’s
time now to figure out what God has given you to say? Don’t you think it’s time
you loosed your voice? Finding it might require some real work and some true
courage, but I hope you’re willing to do it. We need to hear you. Be
encouraged: Your voice is pleasant and you are lovely.
Siri Mitchell
is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed
Christy Award finalists Chateau of
Echoes, The Cubicle Next Door,
and She Walks in Beauty. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in
business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As military
spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently
lives in the DC-metro area.
Visit Siri at http://sirimitchell.com
You can also find her on Facebook and
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