Prompt #28

People always ask writers to describe “their voice,” and it takes forever to figure out how to answer that question. I also think our voice becomes clearer as we grow and sometimes shifts when we are exploring new mediums. So, this is an exercise to help clarify how you write. This is a challenging exercise, but perhaps most useful to people who are newer to writing than seasoned vets!

It’s longer than 10 minutes but incredibly valuable if you’ve never done this kind of assessment before. If you need to break up your writing time, do it in parts.

In the medium of your choice, free write about “a makeover,” whatever that means to you. Genre, tone, characters, everything is up to you. Don’t plan too much, just write. This must be unequivocally you—-your brain. Keep it simple, and write for 10 minutes, and then come back for part 2.

Ready, go!!

****Don’t read the next instruction until you’ve written for 10 minutes!***

Share this post to write with a friend!

Part 2

Welcome back. Next, imagine the writing style of a writer you know well. Try to picture someone whose authorial voice and style are clear to you. For example, as a TV writer, I can spot a Shonda Rhimes script a mile away and love watching Olivia Pope's monologue spoofs on TikTok. For some of you, it may be Quentin Tarantino, Jane Austen, Colson Whitehead, Sally Rooney, or Kurt Vonnegut. It can even be your favorite podcaster, as long as their voice is clear in your head.

Pick whoever that person is for you and reimagine the story you dreamt up in your free-write as this writer. How would they approach the story, the word choice, the syntax, the dialogue? Write for 10 more minutes, then return for the wrap-up activity!

Wrap-up!

When you’ve done both, take a moment to compare and contrast. How did it feel writing as someone else on purpose? What do you notice your initial impulses were compared to this other writer? What did you do that was distinct to your approach versus this other person? Can you think of a few words to describe your writing and this other writer?

You can do this exercise with existing material as well. Think, “What’s MY version of xyz?” and write it as an exercise. Be conscious of what choices you would make that were different, and write down what you notice.

The goal is to get to know your authorial instincts and build a cohesive vocabulary to describe how YOU write. Then, when you have that meeting, go to that networking event, or fill out that fellowship application, you’ll finally be able to answer questions about your voice easily.

I’m watching the original Going In Style (1979) on TCM.

I’m reading Tr*mp Conviction content because I love mess.

I’m listening to the podcast episode of One Song about the history of diss tracks.

This was a big prompt, how did it go? Let me know in the comments or email me back! See ya next week :)