Who Are You as a Writer on the Page?

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

Every year, there seems to be a particular buzzword(s) from conference to conference. This year, I’ve heard the word “voice.” I addressed this some time back, but since it was coming to light again, I thought it best to dedicate a few words to “voice.”

What is a Writer's Voice?

When I attended my first conference some twenty-five years ago, it seemed every conference teacher asked, “What is your voice?” The obvious thought that came to mind was, “Can’t you hear my voice? I’m speaking.” Did I mention how green I was in the writing world? I went to a poor county school in Tennessee that only offered students basic English. Until my senior year, when we had a literature class, there were no creative writing classes. By then, it was too late. That meant I didn’t have a clue what voice was, or point of view, or characterization. Things seemed very literal to a gal who only had basic English, and this writing world had its own lingo.

I remember standing in the lunch line at Blue Ridge with words written on my palm, asking folks how long they’d been attending. If it were two years or more, I’d hold out my hand and ask, “Can you tell me what this is?” Just a side note. I teach industry lingo to new conferees at conferences for this very reason. I never want anyone else to feel like I did, having to walk up to folks and ask what things meant.

I happened upon this wonderful lady named Gayle Roper. She was a darling, and though I didn’t realize she was an author and faculty member, she was kind enough to take my palm and start answering my questions. That afternoon, I attended a class I’d preregistered for, and Gayle was the teacher. She sat next to me with my work and told me that people who read my work would long to have a voice as strong as mine. When I asked what that meant, she smiled. “Honey, your voice is you on the page. Nothing more, nothing less. Just you authentically on the page, and this writing is about as authentic and unique as anything I’ve ever read.” If you know me, then you know I write Appalachian historical, and I’m a mountain girl. My voice would be unique and different. It seemed appropriate that my “voice” was clear in my writing.

Voice is You on the Page

For the first time, I understood what voice was. Gayle made it plain and simple. Voice is you authentically and raw on the page. It made sense that my voice would ring true in writing fiction, but what about non-fiction? Did the meaning change?

Absolutely not. I wouldn’t write Appalachian historical dialect in my non-fiction devotions, but I would still write me. In other words, how I phrase things, the words I use, and the emphasis I might state would still hit the page—my vulnerability and authenticity, honesty in what and how I write. The message I sought to convey would still be me. Learning how to dial up a more influential voice or when to soften it down for a more serious tone was something I had to learn, but once again, this is part of learning the craft of writing.

Gayle said it perfectly. Your voice is you on the page. It’s really that simple. Don’t be afraid to be you. The more comfortable you become with yourself on the page, the more your voice will stand out.

The Writer’s Mistake

The hard part about learning voice is breaking the mindset of the newer writer. When they first begin to write, there is this pressure to write very proper — or overwrite. In other words, they try too hard to write to impress rather than phrasing things and using words that sound like themselves. Their style and words sound stilted and stiff, even overthought. This is the biggest mistake I see as new writers learn the craft. I don’t think it’s intentional. I think it’s what new writers believe is expected. Getting writers to understand to take a deep breath and relax. Choose good words, not stiff words, and just be who they are. Relaxing on the page will take dull and dry work and make it sing.

Be an Individual

When I started high school, my mother pulled me aside and gave me some advice. She encouraged me to always be myself, even if it went against the grain of what everyone else was doing. Obey the rules, but hold onto who you are. You are special and unique. Those words have been true for me for over 50 years in whatever endeavor I pursue. I pass those words on to you. When you write, be an individual. Be yourself. When you do that, authenticity and vulnerability pour onto the page. People will relate to you and connect. 

When you find yourself in your writing and become comfortable with who you are, your words will change lives. Those words will beautifully pour onto the page and perhaps even surprise you. And if I haven’t repeated this enough in this post, I will say it once more for good measure. Your voice is you on the page. Now, go be you.

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Who Are You as a Writer on the Page? from @CindyDevoted on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and she is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and WWW.CHRISTIANDEVOTIONS.US, as well as WWW.INSPIREAFIRE.COM. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at WWW.CINDYSPROLES.COM or www.wramsforwriters.com.