tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post2169023056601861109..comments2024-02-13T15:37:51.463-05:00Comments on Ellis Vidler's Unpredictable Muse: The Author’s VoiceEllis Vidlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-4936559405314294132011-05-27T05:28:20.261-04:002011-05-27T05:28:20.261-04:00It's a great piece on Voice, Beth. I'm so ...It's a great piece on Voice, Beth. I'm so glad you did it. And best of luck with Raven--I'm really enjoying it. I don't have a clue to the killer yet, but I'm not very far along. It's really good though. Thanks for visiting,<br />EllisEllis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-49774693381114056212011-05-26T21:17:52.077-04:002011-05-26T21:17:52.077-04:00I'll love to hear if you guessed who it was, a...I'll love to hear if you guessed who it was, and where in the book you were sure you knew who it was according to the clues dropped here and there in the book, and they are there. ;-) <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by here at Ellis's blog, Erica. I really do appreciate it. And I really do appreciate being invited here to 'speak' at Ellis's very, very nice blog. It's Beth Andersonhttp://www.bethanderson-hotclue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-82230333472317027972011-05-26T13:13:35.583-04:002011-05-26T13:13:35.583-04:00Hi Beth!
Great advice about voice. There is a di...Hi Beth!<br /><br />Great advice about voice. There is a difference between telling a story and writing a story. Grammar is the key to writing a great story and drawing the readers in with a strong voice. <br /><br />Cannot wait to read Raven - I need to know who the killer is!<br /><br />EricaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-91309823792973543742011-05-25T18:34:52.647-04:002011-05-25T18:34:52.647-04:00I'm heeeeere! Thank you, Sloane, for the nice...I'm heeeeere! Thank you, Sloane, for the nice words. Storms passed, but more coming late tonight. I'll try to pop in later on. Meantime, Cheers!Beth Andersonhttp://www.bethanderson-hotclue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-12855344057075784012011-05-25T10:13:50.647-04:002011-05-25T10:13:50.647-04:00Hi, y'all. Beth asked me to tell you she'l...Hi, y'all. Beth asked me to tell you she'll be back soon. They're having storms and she has to offline for a while. I hope she's not in the path of last night's storm system, but we should hear from her as soon as it's passed.Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-42682744709956326192011-05-25T10:06:50.224-04:002011-05-25T10:06:50.224-04:00Excellent advice, Beth. I see a night course in my...Excellent advice, Beth. I see a night course in my near future.:)<br /><br />Congratulations on your new release! Raven Talks Back is a fantastic book. Your "voice" kept me spellbound through the last page.Sloane Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05455715196493185203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-8601740926315038302011-05-25T09:03:10.490-04:002011-05-25T09:03:10.490-04:00Thank you, Warren and Melissa! I actually am sure...Thank you, Warren and Melissa! I actually am sure that Voice IS the magic element that editors are looking for, always. Other things can be fixed, if the editor can see the author has her voice and knows how to make magic with her words. I had to do a lot of revisions--about six pages worth--for that first book, an unforgettable experience, but I benefitted from every one of them. I cringe when Beth Andersonhttp://www.bethanderson-hotclue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-55722587857762401152011-05-25T06:10:18.133-04:002011-05-25T06:10:18.133-04:00Warren, I absolutely agree with you. You have to k...Warren, I absolutely agree with you. You have to know the rules to know when you can break them and how far to go. <br /><br />Melissa, yes, voice is the magical element. <br /><br />You seldom hear grammar mentioned in connection with voice, but it should be. I'm so glad Beth brought it up.Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-78143527810856340262011-05-24T23:59:34.724-04:002011-05-24T23:59:34.724-04:00Very good advice and interpretation of that magica...Very good advice and interpretation of that magical element, Voice. Grammar is something writers tend to forget as they forge ahead with their story, more concerned with character, plot and other , bigger things. But, it's the little foundation things that will trip you up every time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-70464099043833854542011-05-24T20:32:55.169-04:002011-05-24T20:32:55.169-04:00This is a very good description of voice. Knowing...This is a very good description of voice. Knowing grammar makes writing dialog for characters with irregular use of grammar easier. Sort of like an artist who knows perspective can violate it for effect.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-4739790719710537432011-05-24T20:30:57.498-04:002011-05-24T20:30:57.498-04:00Thank you, Betty. I just wrote what I thought and...Thank you, Betty. I just wrote what I thought and apparently everyone's getting it, so I must have done something right. I hope you do read Raven Talks Back, I think you'll love it. Hugs and thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm like a puppy, I'm grateful for every little pat. ;-)Beth Andersonhttp://www.bethanderson-hotclue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-6372387215626537802011-05-24T17:44:12.098-04:002011-05-24T17:44:12.098-04:00Hi, Beth,
Great article on 'voice'. ...Hi, Beth,<br /> Great article on 'voice'. You made it so understandable, and the comment on commas, a battle of mine constantly. I also read my stories aloud and if I stop..I rewrite...something isn't right or it would have flowed.<br /> Thanks for this great lesson...you've obviously found your 'voice'..gotta get your new book...<br /><br />Hugs, BettyBetty Sullivan La Pierrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11843548202137618491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-59855755039132440692011-05-24T11:50:11.216-04:002011-05-24T11:50:11.216-04:00Exactly, Ellis! I could not have said it better m...Exactly, Ellis! I could not have said it better myself. Thank you!<br /><br />And Donnell, thank you for your comments, too. Love the quote by Hemmingway. That's probably where those book titles came from. We're all learning something today, YAY! (Now off to the pet food store for a few minutes. My cats are nagging me half to death because I ran out of treats. Sigh.)Beth Andersonhttp://www.bethanderson-hotclue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-47941573872656552982011-05-24T11:06:45.975-04:002011-05-24T11:06:45.975-04:00There are days when Blogger hates me too, Donnell....There are days when Blogger hates me too, Donnell. I like that Hemingwy quote.<br /><br />Barbara, I'd never thought of having more than one voice, but it's interesting. <br /><br />I do believe Beth nailed it with writing till you don't have to think about it. I know we all think about when going back over, but that first flow is where the voice comes through. It's great if you Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-19565790735666021382011-05-24T10:21:56.488-04:002011-05-24T10:21:56.488-04:00Ellis, that last comment was from me (Donnell) Bl...Ellis, that last comment was from me (Donnell) Blogger is not happy with me for some reason. Thanks to you and Beth!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-64832290392926658442011-05-24T10:18:38.989-04:002011-05-24T10:18:38.989-04:00Ellis, thanks for inviting Beth to participate on ...Ellis, thanks for inviting Beth to participate on this very important topic. Beth, I tried to leave a comment last night and Blogger's mad at me right now. But you explain brilliantly why we must write for clarity, using all of the writing tools at our disposal. They make up our voice. They can also defeat brilliant storytelling if we don't use them.<br /><br />Interesting that you Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-84099197157635725642011-05-24T09:13:15.945-04:002011-05-24T09:13:15.945-04:00Anonymous, thank you! It's always nice to wri...Anonymous, thank you! It's always nice to write something, trying to explain the often unexplainable so that people can understand it, but I gave it my best shot. ;-) If it helps you, I'm happy.Beth Andersonhttp://www.bethanderson-hotlcue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-25769111124995608892011-05-24T09:08:27.382-04:002011-05-24T09:08:27.382-04:00Polly, I do the same thing, read it out loud, only...Polly, I do the same thing, read it out loud, only I do it chapter by chapter as I go along. I also edit as I go along, in part according to what I hear when I read it out loud. I know some authors don't do the editing as they go along thing, but somehow I'm compelled to do it, I've always done it. It's just the way I work in my own comfort zone. If I did it at the end, after I&#Beth Andersonhttp:..www.bethanderson-hotclue.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-23332660845675128372011-05-24T09:02:39.803-04:002011-05-24T09:02:39.803-04:00This is a great commentary on voice and embodies a...This is a great commentary on voice and embodies all the qualities the author has mentioned. Thanks for teaching us what voice means.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-23978240618983495442011-05-24T08:28:16.139-04:002011-05-24T08:28:16.139-04:00What a different and refreshing take on voice! The...What a different and refreshing take on voice! The part about commas rang particularly true for me, because I've been reading The Mysteries of Udolpho, which has WAY too many commas! I'm at about page 500, and I've finally learned to ignore the commas and just enjoy the story.<br /><br />I have two voices -- contemporary and historical -- and lately I've been increasing my workingBarbara Monajemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06740868750916582900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2932500187353859270.post-52382868638264756842011-05-23T23:33:43.470-04:002011-05-23T23:33:43.470-04:00Wonderful post about voice, Beth. I know you'r...Wonderful post about voice, Beth. I know you're talking about an author's writing voice--that which defines a writer's work, sets it apart, and makes it recognizable--but I'm a firm believer in "hearing" my voice, so I always finish a book by reading it out loud. I hear the cadence and rhythms and false notes. I've started your book and love the beginning. I'm Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.com