Defining “Voice”

Bear with me for a minute while I define voice, a word often used by writing teachers, yet one that always seems to remain vague to students.  It is helpful, when defining an abstract term, to incorporate a story or brief anecdote, so consider the following experience: 

When I was in the fourth grade, I went to school one day and discovered a hands-on experiment set up, transforming our classroom into a “lab” for the day.  Because I went to a small, Christian school, our experiments were few and far between, so I was immediately interested in our mission:  to scientifically test a variety of white substances with the goal of properly identifying them all.  We had studied the scientific method earlier in the week, patiently memorizing the steps (questioning, observing, hypothesizing, experimenting, analyzing and communicating the results), but this was a practical application of our knowledge.  After blindfolded “touch” and “smell” tests (we learned how to properly waft the scent toward our noses instead of sticking them directly into the test tube), reaction and solubility tests, we had identified all of the substances by their characteristics.  Powdered sugar had a distinctive texture.  Baking soda fizzled when combined with vinegar, and flour responded to the iodine test by turning a dark, bluish-black.

This fourth grade experiment can help with our definition.  Voice is the “substance” of your writing self.  It is what characterizes who you are on paper, transforming your writing from mere information and words to a form of creative expression.  When put to the test, it should reveal your identity, and it should always be distinctive.  Lastly, you will need to experiment with various stylistic moves and practice the craft of writing consistently (this a “hands-on,” interactive activity, friends) in order to develop your writing voice.

Developing Voice = Developing Style

No matter how unique your personality is when verbally communicating, it takes some work to develop voice.  This means focusing not only on what you say, but also on how you say it.  Essentially, voice refers to your writing style, and style (and, hence, your voice) can be developed by understanding strong writing moves, observing them in published writing and practicing/applying them to your own writing.  Now we are getting somewhere in our definition, because style can be characterized:  it is more practical, observable, replicable than the ambiguous “voice” you are supposed to have in your writing.

Have you ever gotten in trouble with a significant other for your “attitude”?  If so, then you know it is possible to communicate the exact same statement with staggeringly different results depending on your non-verbals, your word emphasis, and the tone of your voice.  The statement “Let me get that for you, sweetie…” can be be interpreted in a positive way if accompanied by your movement to help, a look of concern, or even a smile; however, it can also be interpreted in a negative way if you roll your eyes, speak from your spot on the couch, or over-emphasize the word sweetie.

You need to be aware of how the reader will interpret your writing voice, and stylistic choices are the equivalent to your “non-verbals and actions” in the above scenario:  they make a big impact on how your message is received. 

What’s Next?

In part two of this series, we will explore the first of several strong writing moves that will allow you to develop your best writing self:  embrace clarity.