Choose a fairy tale, short story, TV show or cartoon. Re-write the popular story from a different character’s voice. Meaning, if you pick Cinderella, re-write from the perspective of the wicked stepsister. How would the wicked step sister’s voice differ from Cinderella's? Think about the details each character would notice, the words he or she would use, and the tone in which he or she would relate the story.

Today’s Prompt

How do we find our voices?

In writing, voice is the way your writing 'sounds' on thepage. It has to do with the way you write, the tone youtake--friendly, formal, chatty, distant--the words youchoose--everyday words or high-brow language--the pattern ofyour sentences, and the way these things fit in--or not--with the personality of the narrator character and the styleof your story.

You might be surprised to know how many beginning writerswrite out of character, that is, they choose the wrong voiceand tone for the purpose they have in mind. Your New Englandpreppie won't chew on her words like someone with a Texasdrawl or talk sexy, like a Detroit hooker. A Hickvillestreet sweeper is unlikely to speak like a Harvard graduate,at least not unless he really is a Harvard graduate... butthat would be story, not voice.

Voice is the way your words “sound” on the page…

Voice is a reflection of how your character experiences the world of your story. Invest time in developing your figures and getting to know their background. When you've done that, tell your story out loud, as if the characters in your story are speaking. Let your characters tell you the story, listen carefully to how they do it, then start writing your story down. If you can 'hear' your characters, it's likely that you'll get the voice of your story right.

Voice is a reflection of experience

How about this? Is this what you’d imagine comic sans to sound like?

What is distinct about Sedaris’ voice?

What do you notice about the rhythm and sound of his writing?

How does the tone and voice of the piece stand in contrast to the actual material? Why do you think he chose to treat the subject this way?

Listen to this David Sedaris Clip

Write as much as possible. Keep a journal. Imagine you arewriting your journal for a friend, perhaps in letter style.Write about your day, the things you see and experience, thethoughts that go through your head. Watch the news or read anewspaper and write your thoughts on current events. Writingabout your views is good voice practice, because it forcesyou to think of new things to say and new ways to say them.

We don't stop to think too much as we write letters, wedon't weight up every word--we tell the story. That'sexactly what you need to do when you write your drafts. Whenyou start to worry about the way you're going to sound, youquickly lose your voice.

So how do we find our own unique voice?

Lets try a writing experiment. First we need to brainstorm some situations that can be described from different perspectives…

For example, describe a piece of cheese cake, with one student writing from the perspective of a person who is on a diet; and the other student writing from the perspective of a construction worker who hasn’t eaten all day.

Everyone write down one and hand it to Ms. Rolfe

Now let’s try an experiment…

Choose a partner

Choose a scenario from the bag

Get with your partner and you take one perspective and your partner takes the other.

Now Write!

Now for the writing…

… your writing should have a voice. Almost as unique as these guys…

As you write remember…