Voice in Third Person

Pisarz · Jan 18, 2007

I know that liking or not liking a certain "voice" is subjective, but I would also like to know how to improve or modify the voice when the narrative is in third person. I'm wrestling with this because I've always thought that voice is more or less what comes natural to a particular writer and that like a singing voice, we all have a certain range. Is voice just a matter of clicking with the right agent or is there some way to make it (almost) universally appealing?

Pamster · Jan 18, 2007

Hmmm, I don't think it's a matter of clicking with the right agent, but then I am unpublished as yet so I wouldn't give my POV that much salt yet. As I get more seasoned then I will have more experience then I do right now, so hopefully someone else can offer some insight for you Pisarz. Have you posted in the SYW forum yet with a piece you want feedback on, you can mention you're looking for advice to help you tighten your voice.

Toothpaste · Jan 18, 2007

I think it is a matter of clicking with the right agent. There's a thread right now in the children's section about not being able to please everyone, and that's just it. Just write the story in the voice you want to for the audience you want.

sfecphory · Jan 18, 2007

For years I tried to write in 3rd person and found myself wrestling with it. Then I gave in and began to write in first person. Since then I found that doing so helped me to learn how to use voice to tell the story rather than distract from the story by trying to be cute, or clever, or just annoying. Sometimes voice can get in the way. I now write in 3rd person with a lot more confidence and effectiveness, thanks to using first person to get the bugs out of my storytelling.

PeeDee · Jan 18, 2007

I'm.....not entirely clear on what you're asking here. I think you can write like yourself in your own "voice," which can include all sorts of tones and ranges, if it happens to. I think there's an agent out there who will adore it, some agents who will be okay with it,and some agents who will loathe it.

But that applies to "story," and "characters" and "plot" and "query" and all sorts of other things too.

maestrowork · Jan 18, 2007

Why would you want a generic, "universal" voice when you can be unique and special? Trust me, agents want someone who has his or her own voice.

Pisarz · Jan 18, 2007

maestrowork said:
Why would you want a generic, "universal" voice when you can be unique and special? Trust me, agents want someone who has his or her own voice.

Insecurity, I guess. "If one agent finds my voice "too [insert adjective]," will they all feel that way?" That's the Insecure Thought of the Day ricocheting through my mind.

Pisarz · Jan 18, 2007

Imelda said:
Voice is so personal that you can't expect it to ever be 'universally appealing'. Some people, for instance, like Dan Brown's simple and dramatic style, whereas I hate it and and prefer books with more of an artistic flowing style that bores other people silly (please don't start on arguing about Dan Brown's style--I'm just using it as an example). I imagine that agents do have preferences, and that's where research comes in handy--find authors with a similar voice to your own, and see if you can discover who their agent is.

Even in third person, narrative is distinctive. I'm critting a piece of work at the moment that's in third person and it's worlds away from my own style, also third person, but much more intimately linked to the MC's personality. In my second book, I use two viewpoints, and each, though still in third person, has a distinctive style appropriate to the character.

The only way you can develop your voice is to practise! It happens to be a fun way to learn.

Thanks for the insight, Imelda--and the rest of you as well!

Voice in Third Person

Pisarz

Pamster

Counting Stars

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

sfecphory

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Pisarz

Pisarz