My seventeen year old artist cousin came over to visit on my birthday. We got to talking about art, as we often do, and he asked me a question I haven't been able to get out of my mind:
"What makes your writing unique?"
I laughed at first and blurted out, "Nothing, absolutely nothing."
We both enjoyed a chuckle over my response and went on to talk of other things. The question, however, is not one I am able to rid myself of easily. What does make me different? How can I possibly show my work to an editor and have a "pick me" attitude?
I see my writing and have a fondness for some of it. The other pieces I am not fond of that I still send out have some form of merit to them. But, no matter what I try, I cannot pin down why I am not just some cookie-cutter cretin.
I don't copy others readily in hopes to get rich. I experiment with different styles and am always learning but it doesn't make me unique as all writers do it, or should. So... hmmmm.
What makes YOU unique? Maybe your answer can help me with mine.
I think what would make you or me unique would be our writing voice. Every writer has one (or should have one). Your style or voice is what makes you unique and can make people either love you or loathe you. Hopefully, love us! I also experiment with different styles of poetry and writing. I do different genres and topics. Yet, somewhere inside of my writing there is always a part of me. sometimes some writers may not be able to let their voice shine through; they may not have found their voice yet. I try to write a lot like I speak. I can hear the article or the dialogue speaking in my head before I write it down. It takes on its own voice. But in the end, I'm not realy sure why people like my writing; they just tell me they love it and it is simple, flowing, beautiful. Yet, this does not really answer to me why it is unique? That is as much as I can figure. Thanks Jennifer for a wonderful, thought-provoking post!
ReplyDeleteEvery author, if given enough time, has found his/her voice. What if your voice isn't as different as you once hoped?
DeleteIt's still something I'm working on!
I tend to see your uniqueness through your use of multiple senses in one piece. Although many authors require readers to use many senses, I think this is especially important today in a world where so much of our input is based on sight. Your works help us to take a step back and remember that life is more than just what we see.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is a very nice thing for anyone to say.
DeleteSight alone is like a photograph instead of a place but I am often scared I rely on sight too much. Perhaps I should try writing a series of poems WITHOUT visual cues at all...
That sounds like a good exercise! I might try the same.
DeleteI have been reading so many of my friends' writings, and I decided it is the voice and the style that make each unique. No matter beta readers, critique partners, or editing, we must not lose our voice and our style in the shuffle.
ReplyDeleteOK, let me ask this: How does one know when he/she has found his/her voice? Is it something we can even figure out completely for ourselves? Is it an "aha" moment?
DeleteIf everyone has a unique voice then we're the same in being different, coming back to the beginning... right? I hate my brain right now. lol
Fodder for another post!
I think all of our writing is unique because it comes from a perspective that is unique. No one has seen, experienced, overcome what we have.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it has to do with author voice, and that's one of those things that's almost impossible to identify.
ReplyDelete