Quote by sprite

One of my strengths (not just my opinion, this has been commented on by others in the past) is the ability to discover a new voice every time i write. i do try to strive to create a different style that fits the narrative of the story. perhaps this is partially to trying not to pigion-hole myself into a 'type of story'. i tend to enjoy writing everything from sci-fi to historical to hardcore pure sex stories, etc. Also, i really like to get into the head of my characters. if i'm writing Butterfly Beach, it's Olivia who is actually doing the writing. Blondie stories are written by Blondie, etc, etc. Role-playing in a sense.

the down side of this. often i will revisit a certain story or write a series, and have to recall the voice i used when writing - sometimes it's a struggle to get it just right if i've been away for a while.

as you said, Reggie, no matter how you try to step outside, the voice is you - and it does take a lot of effort to step outside yourself. my advice, try writing something you wouldn't normally write, with a voice you wouldn't normally write in, and see if that frees you up a little? maybe an inbetween story on occasion, just to shake things up.

I'm a lot like you are when it comes to fiction. The story, characters, time and setting dictate voice. There is a lot of my writing style there of course, it's as distinct as my personality. Sometimes if I step away from the story for too long, I lose its voice and it is extremely hard to continue the story. My schedule is so hectic that completing all the many ideas and stories I start is a challenge. Poetry is much more personal and although not always confessional (I find too much of that boring), there is more of me in my poetry. In that instance I do worry about voice. But, I pull from everywhere. My own experiences mixed with a great since of understanding and sympathy for the experiences I have access to, help to at least give my voice a new path with each poem. I do think I have developed my own style, as unpredictable as it seems. "You are like an oncoming train" is my favorite critics description. I don't know, I like the idea of that. My first thought was, "Then you better move."

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