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This week: Is Writing Still Fun for You? Edited by: esprit  
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Writer's voice is a literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author. Voice is a combination of a writer's use of syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc., within a given body of text (or across several works).
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| Are You Still Having Fun?
When does writing stop being fun and what do you think is the main cause for you? If you read many articles and books on how to write, you'll find that they address the issue by suggesting you write every day. Write anything, even if it's mish-mash, morning pages, grocery lists, journals or diaries; but they don't really explain why. I don't know how writing mish-mash helps though, there isn't much creativity in making lists, for instance.
Be honest: is writing still fun for you?
When you log onto your computer each day, do you go straight to your WIP or do you go to your Blog? Maybe you go to your WIP and immediately hit a brick wall, so then you go to your blog to complain about it. Have you figured out why your blog is more fun? Read a paragraph of your novel and then read a paragraph of your blog; do you hear the difference? Is one easy flowing and the other restrained?
A personal blog is written without restraint and you aren't holding yourself back from saying what you want to say in the way you want to say it. It sounds like you, doesn't it? Some writers can shoot out wonderful scenes in their blog each day, but grow to hate those characters who are waiting in their Word program (or whatever writing software you use).
Listen to the passion, excitement and fun of your blog or personal letters to a friend; That's your creative side being allowed to flow. Free-writing, overwriting, journals, etc. are suggested as tools for developing the craft. Don't think they're wasting your time. If you don't practice, you simply will not grow as a writer. In fact, writing will become a chore and you'll resent anyone who seems to be telling you how to write, such as reviewers.
It stops being fun when you try to write a publishable story without learning the basic rules of the writing craft first. First drafts are the creative end of a story--the Blog post. Revisions are where you insert all the boring rules and details to make a story--the hard work. Few professional writers even attempt to sell a story without a few revisions, and they know what they're doing.
Writing everyday without rules is fun, and it's good practice for your creative side. But expecting it to be publishable is asking too much of yourself--and it stops being fun.
Voice Development Exercise
Build a stock of honest personal writings. Write what you know, Who you are, and Where you've been. Write in a compelling and interesting fiction style. Choosing a different topic for each piece is good practice for learning rhythm (sentence structure and punctuation), word choice to fit the theme and characters, and much more.
Voice is a complicated subject and impossible to explain in a how-to article. Reading the good stuff and analyzing it is a must. Learning and following the rules of sentence structure, punctuation, and all those boring things you'd like to pass over are the bones of the rhythm and melody that will become your writers voice.
Free-write it your way, then listen to your English teachers, your creative writing instructors, and your constructive feedback when you want to get serious. They are all on your side.
These writes are not necessarily meant for the public to read, but asking a friend to read them is a good way to learn how you come across to others.
Writing about your opinions forces you to think of new things to say and new ways to say them. It's good sentence structure practice, which is a stepping stone on the path to a good voice. Personal writings are easier than fiction. Since we're writing what we know we can simply tell the story. By the way, storytelling takes practice too.
Later, as you read these writings, notice the ones that really pop--the ones that surprise you with their strength. Is this the voice you've been searching for? There is absolutely nothing to boost your confidence like liking what you write.
Write anything, even if it is mish-mash. It's for the good of your writing.
How many of you have bookmarked "The Writer's Cramp" as a favorite and love to write to its prompts as often as you can? It's fun and challenging, isn't it? It's the longest running contest on WDC and shows no signs of slowing down.
Would you send me your number one answer why you enjoy the Cramp so much? I suppose to be politically correct, I need to show the other side too. If you don't enjoy the Cramp's style, why not? There's no right or wrong answers, this is strictly opinions. I'll post them in Action/Adventure next week.
Thanks,
** Image ID #1528030 Unavailable **
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SUBMITTED ITEMS
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Submitted Comment: This is my first submission, i didn't know if it was okay to post stories that are in parts, because thats the way i write.
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Submitted Comment: I'm sort of new here, sort of, and I would like to get exposure to my story because I seriously would like to get it published someday. Thank you!
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Comments on "Invalid Item"
Submitted By: Acme
Submitted Comment: Simple, practical, good advice
Thanks, Acme. I appreciate your reading the letters.
Submitted By: faithjourney
Submitted Comment: Thank you so much for these warnings! Sadly, there are people out there that are aiming to prey on our desire to become published.
Yes, everyone should do their researching before paying anyone. The Beware link should always be checked. But it's so exciting to be told we will be published, we have to believe it's true--and that's what scammers count on.
Submitted By: sarahreed
Submitted Comment: Thanks so much for outlining potential scams and providing links. I often wonder about contests that charge, but I have seen that that is normal. Still, some contest charges seem high...
You aren't alone in thinking the charges high. I was reading about that over the week-end. Again, check the owner names in the Beware link and in Google.
We always appreciate your comments, thanks!
Editors:
NanoWriMo2018 Into the Earth 
Guest editor this week and next: esprit
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Action/Adventure: December 16, 2009 Issue [#3436]
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