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#Atozchallenge : V is for #Voice #fiction #writing #quotes

 Theme: Quotes from Authors and Bookish People about Writing

The A to Z Challenge is coming to an end, and as  per our custom, we’ll be opening a Reflections Linky list intended only for those who are posting an A to Z Reflections post: we encourage you to blog about your AZ experiences on the 5th of May, and add a link to that post, on the linky list we’ll open on that day.

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Today on Amlokiblogs, we discuss a writer’s Voice.  

Voice can be thought of in terms of the uniqueness of a vocal voice machine. As a trumpet has a different voice than a tuba or a violin has a different voice than a viola, so the words of one author have a different sound than the words of another. One author may have a voice that is light and fast paced while another may have a dark voice. — Wikipedia

“Style and voice are different. Style is standard conventions of
writing. Voice is the distinct way an individual puts words together.
All good writers have a near-uniform understanding of style but a voice
all their own.”
— Naveed Saleh

“Tell your story. Don’t try and tell the stories that other people can
tell. Because [as a] starting writer, you always start out with other
people’s voices — you’ve been reading other people for years… But, as
quickly as you can, start telling the stories that only you can
tell — because there will always be better writers than you, there will
always be smarter writers than you … but you are the only you.”
— Neil Gaiman

 “The reality of a serious writer is a reality of many voices, some of them belonging to the writer, some of them belonging to the world of readers at large.”― Aberjhani

“To set your voice free, set your words free. Set your characters free. Most important, set your heart free. It is from the unknowable shadows of your subconscious that your stories will find their drive and from which they will draw their meaning. No one can loan you that or teach you that.” — Donald Maass

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Do you have a favorite author whose voice you cannot forget? As a writer, do you think you have a unique voice? Do you seek to have one?

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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16 Comments

  • Angela Watt says:

    Neil Gaiman seems to be able to sum up it up perfectly. I love his quotes. Thanks for sharing these.

  • My favourite author voice would have to be Wilbur Smith. I've read many other authors, but in terms of being right out there, he is the man.
    I think I have managed to develop my own voice in writing, which if I have, I'll be pleased about, because I know deep down somewhere I've been trying to 'brand' my writing with my own individual voice.

  • Great advice and quotes.

  • cifar shayar says:

    voices should be such that they echo in your mind after reading

    World Temple

  • P V Ariel says:

    Hi D Biswas,
    This is really an informative and encouraging post.
    Voices are to be heard for 🙂
    Keep making voices LOL
    Have a Happy Weekend
    PS:
    Thanks Damayanti for all the comments and promotions at G+
    Have a good day
    ~Phil

  • Sharon Himsl says:

    Very encouraging words. Love Gaiman's quote: "start telling the stories that only you can tell." Thanks!
    Shells–Tales–Sails

  • I love the Gaiman quote!

  • I hope I'm developing my own voice…we'll see. Writers I appreciate for their voices are crime fiction writers Lee Child and David Freed, and mainstream/women's fiction writers Sandra Dallas and Jodi Picoult.

  • As a new writer (I don't even know if I can call myself one at all at this point), I like Gaiman's advice. When it comes down to it, I can really only know my voice and my story, even if I can share another's, it will never be the same.

  • KT Did says:

    Love the quotes. Interesting and learning about the voice can be confusing too.
    I looks very pretty and a very serene spot.
    Katy Did

    Life's Ride In Between

  • Gaiman's is the best advice.

  • Good quotes.Neil Gaiman's quote is my favourite, also Donald Maass.

  • Tina says:

    Really great quotes. I think I have my blog voice…but finding my voice in my novel has been harder because I don't get as much time to work on it…
    Tina @ Life is Good
    A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014

  • cleemckenzie says:

    Sometimes that voice is right there for me and it's smooth sailing. Other times I have to really dig for it. Great quotes as always, and from some of the best.

  • I am in the A to Z challenge and I also posted in a different way about voice in the arts. I really enjoyed the quotes you shared, especially the ones by Donald Mass and Naveed Saleh. They both got me thinking about how I could stretch my use of voice as a writer.

  • I love quotes so really enjoyed your post. Voice is so interesting and confusing, isn't it? I think the story dictates my voice. I could be wrong. 🙁 The romantic comedy that was published back in 1996 certainly had a different voice than my romantic suspense that's available now. Voice is tricky. I guess that's why they say we writers never quit learning!