Comments on: The Writer’s Voice http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2010/02/07/the-writers-voice/ freelance writing by a freelance writer that works in the freelance writing field Sat, 19 May 2012 09:11:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2010/02/07/the-writers-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-13377 Mark Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:50:43 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1634#comment-13377 Hi Chris, I do have On Writing but read it so many years ago I can't really remember. You're right, there won't be a writer worth his salt who doesn't rewrite to hone things. I think Mr King likely gets it right first time more than the rest of us mere mortals, though. I haven't read any of his stuff for a while (no time), but he still seems as prolific as ever and he writes the fattest novels I've ever seen. Mine run to 291 and 404 pages - that would just about cover a King backstory before he really gets rolling. Good chatting, cheers. Mark Hi Chris,

I do have On Writing but read it so many years ago I can’t really remember. You’re right, there won’t be a writer worth his salt who doesn’t rewrite to hone things. I think Mr King likely gets it right first time more than the rest of us mere mortals, though. I haven’t read any of his stuff for a while (no time), but he still seems as prolific as ever and he writes the fattest novels I’ve ever seen. Mine run to 291 and 404 pages – that would just about cover a King backstory before he really gets rolling. Good chatting, cheers. Mark

]]> By: Christopher Anderson http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2010/02/07/the-writers-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-13376 Christopher Anderson Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:58:33 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1634#comment-13376 That's actually how Stephen King writes. He gets it all down then basically takes a knife and cuts out a lot of the unnecessary. Refines it to a point. Granted he is a genius at what he does, but he still has to do work to it even though it sounds so natural. He talks a lot about this kind of thing in his book "On Writing". Good read if you haven't already. That’s actually how Stephen King writes. He gets it all down then basically takes a knife and cuts out a lot of the unnecessary. Refines it to a point. Granted he is a genius at what he does, but he still has to do work to it even though it sounds so natural.

He talks a lot about this kind of thing in his book “On Writing”. Good read if you haven’t already.

]]> By: Mark http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2010/02/07/the-writers-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-13374 Mark Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:17:49 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1634#comment-13374 Cheers George and Chris, Yep, I'm not sure anyone could read Stephen King and not become a fan. Thanks for your comments, guys. It's a difficult subject, really, and not as clear cut as I make it sound. I don't think there's any harm in honing some sort of personal style, but I don't think you can just pluck it out of thin air. There must be something in your writing that naturally lends itself, or you can end up taking an age. Yes, Chris, I reckon just let it come out first of all. You can always take the Leonard approach if you're not happy, and rewrite. In fact, if you're not rewriting then you're either a King-like genius or you're not making much effort. The key is to get the words out first unhampered, then if you want you can think about applying a specific voice. The voice as a starting point, though, is in my opinion a very bad idea and likely to stifle any natural flow you might have had. See you later! Mark Cheers George and Chris,

Yep, I’m not sure anyone could read Stephen King and not become a fan. Thanks for your comments, guys. It’s a difficult subject, really, and not as clear cut as I make it sound. I don’t think there’s any harm in honing some sort of personal style, but I don’t think you can just pluck it out of thin air. There must be something in your writing that naturally lends itself, or you can end up taking an age. Yes, Chris, I reckon just let it come out first of all. You can always take the Leonard approach if you’re not happy, and rewrite. In fact, if you’re not rewriting then you’re either a King-like genius or you’re not making much effort. The key is to get the words out first unhampered, then if you want you can think about applying a specific voice. The voice as a starting point, though, is in my opinion a very bad idea and likely to stifle any natural flow you might have had.

See you later!

Mark

]]> By: Christopher Anderson http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2010/02/07/the-writers-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-13373 Christopher Anderson Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:07:19 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1634#comment-13373 I actually picked up a lot of my writing style from Stephen King (big fan here as well). I like how how his writing just kind of flows out like someone would talk. I also used to write a lot of poetry in a similar fashion. Very free flowing, no rhyming or structure or anything like that. Good advice I think. Just let it come out right? I've tried a little bit lately to kind of clean things up and smooth my writing out though. I tend to write in short, choppy sentences. Hmm... So I guess I'm trying a little bit, but not too hard ;). Great post. I actually picked up a lot of my writing style from Stephen King (big fan here as well). I like how how his writing just kind of flows out like someone would talk. I also used to write a lot of poetry in a similar fashion. Very free flowing, no rhyming or structure or anything like that. Good advice I think. Just let it come out right?

I’ve tried a little bit lately to kind of clean things up and smooth my writing out though. I tend to write in short, choppy sentences. Hmm… So I guess I’m trying a little bit, but not too hard ;) . Great post.

]]> By: George Angus http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2010/02/07/the-writers-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-13371 George Angus Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:10:23 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=1634#comment-13371 Mark, Spot on advice about voice, me thinks. The voice that works best is the one that naturally flows into your writing. When I had my first article published in our company newsletter, I didn't have any writing ambitions at all. I didn't spend hours reviewing how to say what I wanted to say, I just wrote what came to me. The article was a big hit and I've never looked back in terms of voice. Had no idea you were a King fan. One of my favs, absolutely. And for all of the reasons you point out here. Cheers! George Mark,

Spot on advice about voice, me thinks. The voice that works best is the one that naturally flows into your writing. When I had my first article published in our company newsletter, I didn’t have any writing ambitions at all. I didn’t spend hours reviewing how to say what I wanted to say, I just wrote what came to me. The article was a big hit and I’ve never looked back in terms of voice.

Had no idea you were a King fan. One of my favs, absolutely. And for all of the reasons you point out here.

Cheers!

George

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