Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew
asked
Miranda Davis:
How do you deal with keeping a consistent "tone" when you're writing? There are passages I write when the wind is in the east and I'm all serious and long-winded, but then the next day I veer to writing elliptically. When I re-read, each individual passage will read well enough, but they don't match. So how do you get & keep your "voice"?
Miranda Davis
Am I consistent? Thank you! As you say, it's hard when I get carried away with myself.
Best advice I ever got: Edit. Edit. Edit.
Edit yourself so your meaning is clear, scene by scene.
Each scene should have a purpose in the story and accomplish it.
In a scene, make clear the context, who is doing or saying what and why; what is happening and what the consequences will/might be. That's for starters. Read Grace Burrowes' The Heir and keep in mind what is the purpose of each scene and each character's introduction. It's textbook clear and wonderful at the same time.
Once the mechanics of the draft are in place, polishing tone and making voices of characters and narrator more consistent is far easier. If it's difficult, that's a sign you're not clear in your own mind what should be happening. Does this make sense?
I edit scenes, conversations, descriptions and the entire draft many, MANY times for different issues: clarity, flow, perspective, conflict, humor, plot points, voice, spelling, phrasing, etc. If you use different character's perspectives and a narrative voice, as I do, it can get crowded, so keep in mind who is meant to be saying what. And why. I also read sections aloud in the final editing stages. When it reads smoothly, it's done.
A few suggestions: When you're long-winded, cut it down. Edit it to the bare-bones point you're trying to make, if need be. Be clear before you try to be clever.
I hope some of this helps but most of all, when you are delighted with something you've written, really look at why and replicate that.
Finally, read Stephen King's autobiographical book 'On Writing.' I've never read his books, too scary, but I love his storytelling in this, and he has much better advice about writing. (Sorry, should've probably put this paragraph first and deleted all the rest...Sigh.)
Best advice I ever got: Edit. Edit. Edit.
Edit yourself so your meaning is clear, scene by scene.
Each scene should have a purpose in the story and accomplish it.
In a scene, make clear the context, who is doing or saying what and why; what is happening and what the consequences will/might be. That's for starters. Read Grace Burrowes' The Heir and keep in mind what is the purpose of each scene and each character's introduction. It's textbook clear and wonderful at the same time.
Once the mechanics of the draft are in place, polishing tone and making voices of characters and narrator more consistent is far easier. If it's difficult, that's a sign you're not clear in your own mind what should be happening. Does this make sense?
I edit scenes, conversations, descriptions and the entire draft many, MANY times for different issues: clarity, flow, perspective, conflict, humor, plot points, voice, spelling, phrasing, etc. If you use different character's perspectives and a narrative voice, as I do, it can get crowded, so keep in mind who is meant to be saying what. And why. I also read sections aloud in the final editing stages. When it reads smoothly, it's done.
A few suggestions: When you're long-winded, cut it down. Edit it to the bare-bones point you're trying to make, if need be. Be clear before you try to be clever.
I hope some of this helps but most of all, when you are delighted with something you've written, really look at why and replicate that.
Finally, read Stephen King's autobiographical book 'On Writing.' I've never read his books, too scary, but I love his storytelling in this, and he has much better advice about writing. (Sorry, should've probably put this paragraph first and deleted all the rest...Sigh.)
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