Reading and Voice
Shini writes: Is it a good idea to read your favored genre voraciously? I am concerned that would lead to either loosing your natural voice or otherwise having it butchered in favor of an amalgam of what has recently been read. I’m sorry my reply has taken so long. There's been way too much travel in my life lately.
As a beginning writer, is it a good idea to read? Yes. You need to read good fiction to understand how it works. When I started writing I would read a novel once for pleasure, and then go back and dissected it to figure out exactly how the author did what they did.
Did my voice suffer? To be brutally honest I didn't have a “voice” when I started. Most beginning writers don't. Professional editors tell me that it usually takes a writer several hundred thousand words before they establish a decent voice.
There was a point where I had to be careful to read only well-written fiction, because I would absorb a particular author's style of writing. The benefits of learning from established authors, however, far outweighed any compromising of my fledgling voice.
Note: an author's voice will change over the course of time. It's nothing to worry about. It's a natural evolution for the better. Embrace it. Grow. Change. Enjoy.
As a beginning writer, is it a good idea to read? Yes. You need to read good fiction to understand how it works. When I started writing I would read a novel once for pleasure, and then go back and dissected it to figure out exactly how the author did what they did.
Did my voice suffer? To be brutally honest I didn't have a “voice” when I started. Most beginning writers don't. Professional editors tell me that it usually takes a writer several hundred thousand words before they establish a decent voice.
There was a point where I had to be careful to read only well-written fiction, because I would absorb a particular author's style of writing. The benefits of learning from established authors, however, far outweighed any compromising of my fledgling voice.
Note: an author's voice will change over the course of time. It's nothing to worry about. It's a natural evolution for the better. Embrace it. Grow. Change. Enjoy.
posted by Eric Nylund at 7:23 AM
15 Comments:
No worries, it's better to get an answer than not... And travel is fun, right?
Once again, wise advice. I had thought that one's voice is going to change over time, that seems inevitable. I was very unaware of how long it takes before a writer's voice gets established.
Any books in particular you would recommend as being well written?
I would never recommend a particular book, because this is a very personal decision.
One person’s “well-written” is another person high-brow boredom or juvenile schlock.
I would say look for authors and books that you have enjoyed, and who’s writing you would like to emulate.
Me? When I started I wanted to write like Roger Zelazny so I studied his novels and short stories. I did end up sounding like him (not as good, of course). Today, I have a vestige of that Zelazny flare, but it’s mostly Nylund.
Who do you want to write like?
Hey Eric I just recently started reading Halo Ghosts of the Onyx (my first encounter with any of your books) and I gotta say I'm legitimately impressed at the way you tell a story. You're an amazing writer and from now on I look forward to reading all of your work.
Chapter 8, 9 were so amazing that I totally got a mental picture of how great a movie of this would be. Pretty much there are so many amazing parts that I feel I have to point out and tell you what an amazing job you did, but it would take me too long so all I'll say is keep up the amazing work you are now my favorite writer along with Drew Karpyshyn.
The next book I get once I'm finished with this one is Fall of Reach.
Sorry for getting off topic btw.
For whatever reason (I was tired...), when I posted that I had meant well written from a technical standpoint not stylistically, which is what the question was about in the first place. Go me.
Now I'm going to have to find the box with all my old books in it.
I'll jump in and say I'd like to mimmick prose from Joe Haldeman (Old Twentieth) and I'd like to be able to plot like you, Eric.
To me, certain writers do certain things very well. I've noticed that Eric can plot like no other. The other author mentioned above just easily paints a picture in my mind, and others I've read have certain other talents.
I often feel depending on the place in the plot, there is a time and place for everything. Something you liked that a writer used may fit in really well. Mimmick it and put your own twist [voice] into it.
It's amazing the little nuances in writing you can pick up when you just read. And like Eric said, it really helps to diversify your intake. Writing is a two-way street. It helps to grow in any way possible, even reading outside everything you know. It's like expanding your boundaries when you rode a bike as a kid. You always wanted to go farther each day.
I have a question: Recently, in my A.P. English class, we were finishing our discussion up about the novel The Kite Runner. As we were about to finish it up for the day, my teacher asked how many of us bought our own copy of it. I raised my hand. She then asked how many of us annotated it for literary purposes (noting foreshadowing, irony, pretty much everything that makes the book what it is... right down to how the author injects his personal opinion of the situation/commentary. I did not raise my hand.
So my question is this: When you come across an author you find is worthy of studying their style, do you annotate your books? If you do, does it offer any significant betterment of your study of the author?
The reason I ask is that I am hesitant to mark my books. I am very anal when it comes to books and like to keep them in pristine quality. Should you input sway me towards annotating these things though, I will probably keep a reference notebook for my bookshelf.
Hey, I'm re-reading Ghosts for the first time since it came out. Still as captivating as ever! Can't put it down! :P
BTW, Mass Effect: Revelation was really good. I read it. I would recommend it to anyone who plans on buying the game.
Thanks Michaelp, EMF, Kilroy!
Shini, well written from a technical stand point? I think must authors use proper grammar (certainly their editors will insist they do), but those things are easy to master. Get yourself a copy of Strunk and White’s _The Elements of Style_ which explains the building blocks of good grammar and style—all in 85 easy to read pages.
Jon M—I used to keep a journal in which I would write down passages from novels that worked for me. I’d then analyze them there. I could never bring myself to write in my books, either.
""IGN: Tell us a little bit about the new friends we'll meet in the new book.
Eric Nylund: There's one character in particular that I grew attached to. He's a father figure, trying to do the right thing in a very difficult set of circumstances. He sacrifices a great deal along the way before he's redeemed. I get chills every time I think about him.""
So do I Mr. Nylund such an incredibly well developed character. Spartans never die indeed :)
I'm finished with the book absolutely loved it going to read it again, but I just ordered The Fall of Reach and First Strike from Amazon.com. After finishing with Ghosts of the Onyx I can't resist not catching up on what I've missed so far. By the time you work on another novel I will be totally caught up on all your work.
I know there are many great books out there, but I can say with confidence Ghosts of the Onyx is the most enjoyable book I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I think its the best book I have ever read and I'm being totally honest. I believe I connected perfectly with every character, got a perfect feel for the intensity of each battle and other rather difficult or potentially hopeless situations and I totally feel I was right there and had a perfect understanding for the different kinds of emotions you were trying to instill in the reader every step of the way.
I started feeling sorry for characters, started caring about characters hoping nothing happened to happened to them or the Spartan IIIs.. I even got worried at the very hint that they were facing imminent danger (probably a bit more worried than I should've been considering I was reading a book :D) not just for their sake, but for Kurt's as well.
I went in thinking the program was going to be a big disaster and it wouldn't produce subjects I'd care about or be impressed by and now I've the utmost respect for them.
Anyway I'm starting to ramble so I'll just end off by stating the book is amazing. I hope Peter Jackson reads it.
Eric,
Came across this site by "accident." I was looking for Eric Raab (my agent just sent him one of my manuscripts) and this popped up...found it quite interesting but couldn't help but comment on your "author's voice" blog. You said it takes most authors several hundred thousand words to find their voice-I'm curious about that. Currently, on my fifth novel, my character has definitely evolved through the books but I believe the voice has remained the same-is this not a good thing? Just curious. (Yes, I'm a firm believer in outlines) I totally agree with the one person's "well written" is boredom for another. God knows the publishers all have different opinions in this slow, slow, slow (did I say slow?) gruelling process. Regardless, any tips to ease this "acute impatience" I've had with the whole process? I like your site--plan to pick up one of your books, too. Don't mean to sound so scattered; it's late.
Best Wishes
S--
www.stacydittrich.com
Stacy,
I said that _editors_ claim it takes several hundred thousand words to establish a voice (an important distinction!). I personally believe that when I started out I had a “voice” --it was just imitative and evolved rapidly over the next few books. I also believe that there are writers who hit a voice when they start, and then stick with it for their entire careers.
Is change in voice a good thing? If you’re writing a serial, then probably no. I think your readers will expect you to sound the same from book to book within the series. But I know I am a stronger (and more commercial) writer now than I was when I started. If I had been forced to stay in the same voice that evolution would have never occurred.
Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much about voice. If you have a published series and are happy writing it, then stick with that. If the series ends, then move on to something new and maybe (or not) your voice will change. It’ll be a natural thing.
RE: Tips for your “acute impatience” with the grueling process. I am assuming you mean the publication process and not the writing process? If so, ping me; maybe I’ll write it all up a separate blog entry.
Good luck!
Michaelp if you really enjoy Eric's storytelling I would reccommend reading A Signal to Noise & A Signal Shattered.
They are my two favorite books by Eric. As much as I loved the HALO novels I personally enjoyed those two novels immensely, two definate must reads. In fact as I noted in an e-mail to Eric they reignited my passion for physics. However keep in mind they are more sci-fi and less space opera.
Wow, im really gonna take these suggestions. I personally believe i have a voice in the stories i write, though as you said it is somewhat immitative. My favorite author used to be a man by the name of Terry Pratchett, but since I've read Ghosts of Onyx, i havn't been able to read anything else but SF!
By the Way, i suggest Terry Pratchett to anyone who wants to find their vioce. His grasp on the human spyche is...unmatched. He can be found at any bookstore :D
When I first started writing, it was plain and simple, there were no deep words and adjectives were rarely found, but now, I can do better after reading the hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien but I ended up sounding like him, well almost. I believe the best way to find your voice is to come up with a formula like what I'm using now. I also tried designing my own training module.
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