This is the third post in a series on voice. The first is Are you courageous enough to find your voice? The second is Using voice in nonfiction writing.
“There are no boring subjects, only boring writers.” ~ Barry Lane
I want to write travel memoirs that read like fiction. I want my readers to become fully immersed in the story and enjoy traveling with me on my adventures. At the same time, I want to relay verifiable information without filling in the gaps with exaggerated or fabricated facts.
I believe the author’s voice is what brings life to nonfiction. In the second post of this series, I discussed writing honestly and letting your personality speak to the reader. But your voice is more than an honest retelling of your story. For your story to come to life, you need pizzazz—an attractive style that adds vitality to your narrative.
I recently read the travel memoir, Belly Up by Gina Greenlee. I just loved the way she used a rich mix of literary techniques, especially her wordsmithing, to enhance her storytelling: “sing-song tenor of a two-tone doorbell;” “having my stomach on the ceiling and my face in a bucket;” “five passengers folded into one another like human origami;” a “heaviness in my heart offset by a buoyancy in my checking account” are a few of these gems scattered throughout the book. Original language is a marvelous way to capture your readers’ attention!
Descriptions and actions make the story memorable. Use the “Show don’t tell” technique to describe your observations and shape the story. Artfully craft three-dimensional characters. For ways to inject emotion into your writing, see Stepfan Vucak’s blog. Although he is advising fiction writers, the principles are the same for nonfiction scribes.
Having a plan helps you maintain your voice. Identify your target reader. Choose your message: are there keywords or main ideas threaded throughout? Create an outline. Pen an inviting beginning and a satisfying ending, and then fill in with superb craftsmanship. Always keep your reader in mind.
Check your work for consistency in message, tone, and voice. Don’t confuse your reader.
Most important, enjoy the writing. Your readers will detect your pleasure.
Six ways to develop your voice for nonfiction writing
- Write honestly and simply. Using first person helps. Be funny, profound, cynical, vulnerable, or whatever characteristic helps you share your perspective.
- Use literary techniques such as setting, voice/tone, character development, metaphors, symbols, etc. to animate your stories.
- Make descriptions and actions noteworthy. Create vivid images in the reader’s mind with sensory details.
- Determine the point of the message before you start writing, and then weave the point or underlying theme throughout the story. Let the reader come to a conclusion; don’t tell it to him.
- Be consistent in voice (and tone). Is the attitude you are trying to convey to your reader the same throughout the writing?
- Have fun writing. Your doing so can make it very rewarding for the reader.
Is your writing voice boring or does it bring your book to life? Will you use one of these techniques or another to revitalize your nonfiction writing? Please comment.
