Using Personal Voice in Writing April Etzold Florida Gulf Coast University National Writing Project aprilme@leeschools.net

What is voice? “Voice is the writer’s music coming out through the words, the sense that a real person is speaking to you and cares about the message. It is the heart and soul of the writing, the magic, the wit, the feeling, the life and breath. It is flashes of spirit. When the writer is engaged personally with the topic, he or she imparts a personal flavor to the piece that is unmistakably his or hers alone” (Culham, 2003, p. 102).

So I have to know the author in order to recognize the author’s voice? No, but through the writer’s voice you may feel as though you know him or her. Voice is anything that creates an emotional response in the reader. It could be whimsical, silly, or frightening. It is the author’s attitude about the subject that comes through in the writing (Spandel, 2008). .

Hey, isn’t that what emoticons are for? Happy = :) Sad = :( Laughing = :D Winking = ;) Unsure = :\ These are a shorthand form of voice that are perfectly acceptable for emails and text messages, but when it comes to other forms of writing, a little originality and imagination might be required…

Voice in art – How does each artists’ interpretation of the same subject differ? Describe the mood each artist creates. 1. 2. By Doris Jean Silva By Silvia Vassileva

Voice in art – How does each artists’ interpretation of the same subject differ? Describe the mood each artist creates. 3. 4. By Chris Hotham Carroll By Maureen L. White

How to Express Voice in Writing: Choose words that communicate emotions to the reader Match style to your writing purpose and audience (experiment!) Expose the individual behind the words (Culham, 2003, p. 124)

Voice in Writing – Samples of Text with Unique Voice “The first time I saw her, I got a bad feeling inside. Not like I was in danger or nothing. Just like she was somebody I should stay clear of. To tell you the truth, she was a freak like me. The kind of person folks can’t help but tease. That’s bad if you’re a kid like me. It’s worse for a new teacher like her. Miss Saunders is a different as they come. First off, she got a man’s name, Michael. Now who ever heard of a woman named that? She’s tall and fat like nobody’s business, and she’s got the smallest feet I ever seen. Worse yet, she’s got a giant white stain across her face like somebody tossed acid on it or something. I try not to stare the first day that amazon woman-teacher heads my way. See, I got a way of attracting strange characters. They draw to me like someone stuck a note on my forehead saying, “losers wanted here.” Well, I spend a lot of time trying to fit in here at McClenton Middle School. I ain’t letting nobody ruin it for me, especially no teacher.” -Sharon Flake, The Skin I’m In

Voice in Writing – Samples of Text with Unique Voice “My father started to cry then…This was one of those tragedies that needed a family that knew what it was doing. Like the Kennedys or the Queen of England and her whole bunch. Not a family like ours that comes unglued if someone doesn’t follow the morning bathroom schedule.” -Barbara Park, Mick Hart Was Here “Ronald stared at the lines of shapes he longed to know how to read; they seemed to him as magical as the fairy-tale pictures in his book. Words and trees – and knights and dragons – were what Ronald wanted.” Anne E. Neimark, Myth Maker: J.R.R. Tolkein