Comments on: Voice vs. Style http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/ Author Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:43:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jon Skovron http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/comment-page-1/#comment-204556 Jon Skovron Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:00:23 +0000 http://www.malindalo.com/?p=1740#comment-204556 nice post! I don't scrutinize things like voice and style too closely because I think there is no real way to parse them out into something helpful to anyone else (or even yourself), but I think you're absolutely right that these things are formed through some strange alchemical mixture of reading-writing-reading-writing, and that it does take a certain amount of confidence, or perhaps boldness, to hear the individual voice/style that emerges. I remember "trying on" styles, much like clothes. My Kelly Link phase, my Henry Miller phase, my William Thackeray phase, etc...and at first it's alarming how they take over. But eventually, as you keep writing and exposing yourself to other styles and voice, then synthesizing with more writing, all the other voices/styles recede into the background and you're left with something completely new. I don't actually see a huge difference between voice/style. Maybe because I don't have a perference between 1st or 3rd preference. I like them both, depending on what works best for the story. I've even changed a story from one to the other in the middle of things and so far very glad I did. nice post! I don’t scrutinize things like voice and style too closely because I think there is no real way to parse them out into something helpful to anyone else (or even yourself), but I think you’re absolutely right that these things are formed through some strange alchemical mixture of reading-writing-reading-writing, and that it does take a certain amount of confidence, or perhaps boldness, to hear the individual voice/style that emerges. I remember “trying on” styles, much like clothes. My Kelly Link phase, my Henry Miller phase, my William Thackeray phase, etc…and at first it’s alarming how they take over. But eventually, as you keep writing and exposing yourself to other styles and voice, then synthesizing with more writing, all the other voices/styles recede into the background and you’re left with something completely new.

I don’t actually see a huge difference between voice/style. Maybe because I don’t have a perference between 1st or 3rd preference. I like them both, depending on what works best for the story. I’ve even changed a story from one to the other in the middle of things and so far very glad I did.

]]> By: Madison Le http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/comment-page-1/#comment-204522 Madison Le Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:04:33 +0000 http://www.malindalo.com/?p=1740#comment-204522 I think "voice" is ascribed to an author's ability to successful provide dialogue (or personal monalogue) that convinces the reader that it is the character's natural speech/thoughts in the context of each character's backstory, and the setting/time period in which the story is set. For example, in "The Color Purple," Alice Walker is successful at capturing the voice of many of its characters by writing dialogue that mimicks Southern dialect, spoken by those of similar social/economic status in the 1930s. Similarly, Walker curbs the dialogue by limiting each character to speak only in the context of their exposure/experience: dumbing the dialogue for the uneducated naive Celie, adding brash adlib with street-smart dialogue for Shug, and providing intelligent, worldly perspective dialogue for the educated, well-traveled Nettie. The "voices" of these characters develop irrespective of the point of view from which the story is told. On the other hand, I think style is more of a textbook measure, which is attributed to how the writer wants to tell the story. This weighs heavily on point of view, i.e. first/third/omniscent. Citing "The Color Purple" again, Alice Walker chooses to tell the story through the use of diary entries and letters, which limits it to a first person point of view (based on whomever is inking the dairy entries or the letters). The story works in this style because unfolding the story in successive, chronological entries/letters from a narrow first person perspective helps give the reader insight into how little Celie knows and understands of her oppressive disposition at beginning of the story, and lends plausibility to when Celie fights back with fierce force when the truth is all revealed to her through Nettie's letters at the end of the story. The style piggy-backs on the voices of the characters to make the story work, but it is not dependent on it. Did I confuse everyone more? :) I think “voice” is ascribed to an author’s ability to successful provide dialogue (or personal monalogue) that convinces the reader that it is the character’s natural speech/thoughts in the context of each character’s backstory, and the setting/time period in which the story is set. For example, in “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker is successful at capturing the voice of many of its characters by writing dialogue that mimicks Southern dialect, spoken by those of similar social/economic status in the 1930s. Similarly, Walker curbs the dialogue by limiting each character to speak only in the context of their exposure/experience: dumbing the dialogue for the uneducated naive Celie, adding brash adlib with street-smart dialogue for Shug, and providing intelligent, worldly perspective dialogue for the educated, well-traveled Nettie. The “voices” of these characters develop irrespective of the point of view from which the story is told.

On the other hand, I think style is more of a textbook measure, which is attributed to how the writer wants to tell the story. This weighs heavily on point of view, i.e. first/third/omniscent. Citing “The Color Purple” again, Alice Walker chooses to tell the story through the use of diary entries and letters, which limits it to a first person point of view (based on whomever is inking the dairy entries or the letters). The story works in this style because unfolding the story in successive, chronological entries/letters from a narrow first person perspective helps give the reader insight into how little Celie knows and understands of her oppressive disposition at beginning of the story, and lends plausibility to when Celie fights back with fierce force when the truth is all revealed to her through Nettie’s letters at the end of the story. The style piggy-backs on the voices of the characters to make the story work, but it is not dependent on it.

Did I confuse everyone more? :)

]]> By: Malinda Lo http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/comment-page-1/#comment-204521 Malinda Lo Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:38:52 +0000 http://www.malindalo.com/?p=1740#comment-204521 Thanks, Cheryl. It's sometimes confusing though because I think when people use the term "voice" they're also referring to third-person narrators, aren't they? Thanks, Cheryl. It’s sometimes confusing though because I think when people use the term “voice” they’re also referring to third-person narrators, aren’t they?

]]> By: Malinda Lo http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/comment-page-1/#comment-204520 Malinda Lo Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:37:46 +0000 http://www.malindalo.com/?p=1740#comment-204520 I loved DISREPUTABLE HISTORY. Do you mean the voice of Frankie leaps out at you, via the third-person narrator? It's complicated, isn't it? I loved DISREPUTABLE HISTORY. Do you mean the voice of Frankie leaps out at you, via the third-person narrator? It’s complicated, isn’t it?

]]> By: Cheryl Renee herbsman http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/comment-page-1/#comment-204519 Cheryl Renee herbsman Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:23:30 +0000 http://www.malindalo.com/?p=1740#comment-204519 Excellent discussion of the topic, Malinda. I think you did a great job with this. And I think you're right that voice is more of a first person issue and style is a better description of the 3rd person issues. I like your advice! Excellent discussion of the topic, Malinda. I think you did a great job with this. And I think you’re right that voice is more of a first person issue and style is a better description of the 3rd person issues. I like your advice!

]]> By: Jess http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/comment-page-1/#comment-204518 Jess Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:10:40 +0000 http://www.malindalo.com/?p=1740#comment-204518 This is a great post! I tend to think of style as third-person and "voice" as first-person, too. But there are some remarkable close third-person books where voice leaps out at you: E. Lockhart's Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a great example of that. This is a great post! I tend to think of style as third-person and “voice” as first-person, too. But there are some remarkable close third-person books where voice leaps out at you: E. Lockhart’s Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a great example of that.

]]> By: jon http://www.malindalo.com/2009/08/voice-vs-style/comment-page-1/#comment-204517 jon Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:10:44 +0000 http://www.malindalo.com/?p=1740#comment-204517 I'm so glad you expanded on this here, I was thinking about it on the way home. I’m so glad you expanded on this here, I was thinking about it on the way home.

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