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Writing with Voice

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

We talk about voice a lot as writers. Editors and agents exalt its importance. But what is it, exactly? And how do we find it? For the first two years of my writing journey, I revered voice. I extoled it as the Holy Spirit of writing. This mysterious entity that dwelled inside me. This shapeless, formless thing that would emerge effortlessly as soon as I figured out how to surrender to its power.

I read stuff about voice. It all amounted to something like: To find your writing voice, you must write. Write and write and write. Don’t sensor yourself. Don’t edit. Just write. Pretty soon your natural voice will emerge.

Desperate to find my voice, I tried it. More than once. And each time, I ended up with this mass of….well….word vomit. I would blink at the words on my monitor and worry. Worry that maybe I didn’t have a voice. Or worse, maybe the rambling word vomit was my voice.

Yet, I’ve been told I have a strong voice. I’ve been told my voice is fresh, even captivating. And not from my mother either, but from objective readers. Professionals in the industry. So how can this be? If voice is this natural, inherent thing, and my natural, inherent inclination is to produce humdrum writing, how then, can I possibly have a strong voice?

Here’s my opinion on the matter:
Voice is anything but natural. Anything but inherent. It’s not this magical component of writing that I’ll find if only I write enough. I could write all day and continually produce rambling messes of wasted computer space.

Writing fresh, finding my voice…it’s hard. And time consuming. It doesn’t magically flow from my fingertips as I peck away at my keys. Read my first drafts and you’ll know what I’m talking about. My first drafts are filled with cliches, passive verbs, boring, unoriginal descriptions. This voice readers have praised, this voice readers have commended as strong….it doesn’t come effortlessly. It doesn’t come naturally. It doesn’t come at all. I have to chase it. I have to pull out the pliers and dig so deep into the recesses of my mind that my cognitive fingers come out cramped and slimy. Chasing after my voice, finding a fresh way to write, is exhausting. Even painful.

But oh so worth it.

Take heart when you read something filled with voice. Remember that it probably didn’t just come out that way. Especially not the first time around. It probably took a lot of hard work. Because usually, the writing that’s easiest to read, is the writing that was hardest to write.

Questions to Ponder: What are your thoughts on Voice? Do you agree or disagree with my take on this mysterious component of writing?removetweetmeme

3 C’s – It’s Friday!

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Cares:
My blogging break was so incredibly refreshing. In fact, it was so good I’ll only be posting on Mondays and Fridays from now until summer break.

Do I enter the Genesis contest? It’s something I’ve pondered lately. I keep waffling. So finally, I asked myself, why not? And here was my pathetic excuse for an answer: What if I don’t final? I have an agent now….doesn’t that mean my writing should be at a level where I should final? Oh, silly Katie, why are you letting fear reign? But yet, I’m afraid. I’m afraid of entering the contest and not finaling. I’m afraid of everybody knowing I’ve entered the contest and knowing I didn’t final. What a silly reason not to enter the contest, right? How will I get anywhere in life if I let fear of failure guide my steps?

On Wednesday, I submitted Wishing on Willows to my lovely agent, Rachelle Gardner. It felt very bizarre sending her the story before receiving feedback from my critique partners, but something came up. While there isn’t a contract, there is some interest from an editor, who’s waiting for the right time to bring my proposal to pub committee. In order to strengthen our pitch, Rachelle wants to change my 1-book proposal to a 2-book proposal. So this weekend, I’ll be busy writing a synopsis, back-cover copy, and hook. After that, I’m hunkering down for a long wait. Hopefully my sanity will stay firmly in place during the lull.

I’m holding off on writing the third book in my series and am going to dive into a totally new idea. I submitted five potential book ideas to Rachelle. She’s going to take a look at them and help me decide which direction to head next.

Concerns:
I’ve taken Tylenol for a week straight. Last Friday kicked off our church’s Winter Jam, which is this big event for Jr. and Sr. high students that lasts all weekend. One of the games was a banana split eating contest – Jr. high leaders vs. Sr. high leaders. Basically, it was a wallpaper tray filled with freezing cold ice cream (and other banana split ingredients). I had a plastic spoon and joined several Jr. high leaders in devouring the ice cream….I mean, shoveling it in my mouth at lightning fast speed (can we say cold headache?) all for the sake of winning this odd-looking, one-eyed, golden owl thingy. Funny at the time. Not so funny now. My teeth continue to throb and my jaw muscles continue to ache. I’m wondering if my teeth are extra sensitive from all the prior damage (if you’re confused, or if you like gory stories, see this post here)

I’ve been in a funk with my job lately. I’m talking, major, unmotivated funk.

Celebrations:
I finished revising Wishing on Willows, my fourth book (second book in the series). It’s with my agent and my critique partners.

35 students gave their life to Christ over the Winter Jam weekend. I don’t know of anything more worthy of celebration than that!

Question to Ponder: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations? Catch me up on your lives! I know Rosslyn got a 3-book contract with Thomas Nelson…who-hoo!!! Anybody else have exciting news to share? Mediocre news? Not-so-fun news? I’d love to hear it all – regardless of where it falls on the news spectrum.

Join me on Monday so we can talk about that ever-elusive thing called Voice.removetweetmeme

3 C’s – It’s Monday?

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I know, I know. It’s Monday. So what gives? I didn’t do 3 C’s on Friday and since I’m taking a hiatus, I wanted to break with the 3 C’s.

Cares:
I woke up the other day and thought, “I should take a break.” I know all the blogging rules. They say to post regularly and all that. But the rules will just have to fall by the wayside. Not sure how long the break is going to be. I just know the rest of this month is BUSY! Report Cards. Parent Teacher conferences. Winter Jam. Not to mention revisions. So I won’t be blogging for awhile. Unless, of course, anything fun happens with my manuscript (gotta stay positive, right?).

Last night I finished reading Thin Places, by Mary DeMuth. These past few weeks, I’ve had such a run-in with amazing literature (an excellent problem to have). Well, boys and girls, this one takes the cake. Hands down, my favorite. I can’t even describe the beauty, the rawness, the honesty of this book. A month or so ago, I wrote a post about life-changing fiction. Thin Places may not be fiction, but it is most assuredly life-changing. Thank you, Mary. May God bless your heart for writing so boldly for Him.

Concerns:
Parent Teacher conferences coming up. I won’t get home until 9:00 p.m. two of the nights, which means I don’t get to see Brogan ALL day. It really is not fun. And it’s tiring. Probably my least favorite part of being a teacher.

Brogan is not himself. Teething? Bad cold? I have no idea. He’s coughing. And his nose is a complete faucet. He’s clingy and whiny and he can’t tell me what’s hurting. No fun. For me or for him.

Celebrations:
It’s President’s Day, so I have the day off work!

I visited two of my girlfriends up in Madison this past weekend. Had a blast. Ate a lot of food (and I mean A LOT!) We did our Christmas book exchange (yes, I know, we were a little late this year). I bought one of my friends Thin Places. I really can’t wait for her to read it.

People are getting book contracts! (Not me….not yet, anyway) But even though it’s not me, there’s something so inspiring, so uplifting, about people’s dreams coming true.

Question to Ponder: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations today?

See you when I see you. Hopefully, when that time comes, I’ll be finished with revisions and ready to start book 5!removetweetmeme