Let Voice Be Your Guide

Spandel stresses the importance of voice and how it makes one’s work recognizable and distinct. I could not agree more for the non-technical writers out there that voice becomes your stamp and as the book says “is like personality.” I’m sure most of us have a favorite author that we feel comfortable with like an old friend; it is the voice that we here and feel as we read. The Seinfeld examples were right up my alley and made the point even more helpful when you actually know and are familiar with the person’s actually voice. Try reading a letter, post card, greeting card, or emails from someone you know it is probably impossible for that person’s voice or face to not come through the words. Aren’t we comfortable with familiarity? The text encourages reading and discovering others voices to get the idea of how effective it can be and also help you find your own. I also really like the idea of reading your writing out loud, which will quickly determine if your intended voice is properly being projected.

Although it is obvious I enjoyed reading about the similar use of language for speech and writing. I do not know if this happens to other people but sometimes I say things I never would have written on paper and conversely for speech and writing. Why is this? Ideas are generated from the same source, right? I think it is answered when Smith talks about tapping into the creative nature of our brains. When we put pressure on ourselves to generate ideas it may prove to be an unnatural overload. It is the daily routine, the everyday uncluttered thinking that yields the most profound thoughts. Why is our programming so damn complicated? The great ones make it look easy, because their greatness is most likely routine for them. I also make it a point to never read about writing blocks, my superstitious nature prompts me to steer clear of them, including reading about them, no thanks!

I also had visions of Seinfeld while reading the beginning paragraphs of Sommers with all the dialogue about jackets and fabrics. Speaking of voice I could hear Morty Seinfeld’s voice talking about his days in the garment district in Manhattan working for the great Harry Fleming. Who could forget the belt less trench coat? Sommers compares her tumultuous times as the daughter of a coat salesman to becoming an instructor of writing. She says both involve attention to detail and that students are her customers and strives to teach those difficult students much like her father tried hard to fit that hard to please person. Sommers wisely believes that timid students and indecisive customers have to take more risks in their wardrobes and the classroom to make “bold statements” and stand out from the crowd.