VOICE

Many beginning authors are afraid of sharing their idea in case it gets stolen. This is a silly fear. First of all, there are no new ideas under the sun. Even your idea (as brilliant as it may be) has been done before in some way. Second, even if someone takes your idea, they can't take your voice.

Voice is what agents and editors look for. Your voice is what is going to set you apart. Ever buy a book because the storyline sounds fabulous, but when you take it home to read, you have to force yourself to finish it...or it just ends up being a paper weight on your nightstand? The author hadn't found his/her voice yet.

So what is voice? It is personality on a page. It makes your writing style unique. For example, my chritique partner just judged a contest and on one entry she wrote: You have a voice like Angela Meuser. This means there is a certain style to my writing. Just like the Beatles had a certain sound. Just like Jerry Bruckheimer movies have a certain feel. This is voice. But how do you find yours?

Here are the fundamentals that will clarify your voice for you...
1) Precision--state what needs to be said without making it lengthy
2) Don't Overwrite--avoid redundancy, resist the urge to explain
3) Simplicity--simple sentences will creat impact
4) Avoide Weak Words--such as adverbs and adjectives
5) Use Active Voice--avoid using words like was, is, had been
6) Use Specific Nouns--don't just say "car" but say what kind of car
7) Write Positively--don't say what ISN'T happening, say what IS
8) Avoid Cliches--take them apart and write in a fresh way
9) Use All 5 Senses--make the readers experience the story for themselves
10) Put the punch line at the END of a sentence--you want your jokes to sizzle not fizzle

You know how in movies there is a voice over of the character who wrote a letter actually reading it as another character looks at the words on a page? You hear their voice. This is what you want your readers to hear as they read your book. This is what will get your writing noticed and remembered.