Creating your own voice | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The author discusses the development of their distinctive writing voice and how it was influenced by admired writers, particularly those from the New Yorker. They emphasize the importance of authenticity and finding confidence to write in one's own voice.

Transcript

I wanted to talk a little bit about how you create you know the distinctive voice that your pieces have that's something that you are that you've developed over time and did you see yourself in a certain tradition as you were starting out you know where there's certain writers that you were emulating and you know did you see yourself as part of a y... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ The New Yorker writers have had a significant influence on the author's development of a distinctive voice in their writing.
• 💨 Imitating admired writers can be an effective way to find one's own voice as a writer.
• 🗣️ Writing authentically, reflecting one's natural speaking style, is crucial in developing a unique voice.
• 🧑‍🏭 Confidence and experience are important factors in gaining the freedom to write in one's own voice.
• 💁 The author's narrative voice is filtered through factual reporting and includes a significant amount of historical and background information.
• ❓ Each story may have its unique elements, but the overall voice and style of the author remain consistent.
• 🤩 Authenticity and personal tone are key aspects of the author's writing style.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the writers from the New Yorker influence the author's writing voice?

The author greatly admires the writers from the New Yorker for their individualistic style and use of voice. Reading John McPhee, AJ Liebling, and Joseph Mitchell among others influenced the author's desire to write with a distinctive voice.

Q: How did the author develop their own writing voice?

Initially, the author imitated the writers they admired, considering it a helpful way to find their own voice. Over time, they gained more freedom and confidence, allowing them to write in an authentic way and reflect their own personal tone.

Q: What role does factual reporting play in the author's stories?

The author includes a significant amount of factual reporting in their stories and books, often involving history and background information. However, this factual reporting is filtered through the author's narrative voice, which reflects how they would naturally tell the stories in a personal and engaging manner.

Q: Does every story by the author sound the same?

Although the author initially believes each story will sound different, they admit that they all end up sounding like they wrote it. However, they argue that this consistency in the voice means they are writing truly out of their own voice and style.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author admires the writers from the New Yorker and their ability to create individualistic and voice-filled pieces of writing.

• Initially, the author imitated the writers they admired but eventually found their own unique voice through experience and confidence.

• The author believes that writing in an authentic way and having the freedom to write the way they speak helps create a personal and engaging narrative style.