Writing 101 Maintaining Interest - Preparation and The Unique Voice

When it comes to writing, everyone has his or her own style. People have different ways to prepare themselves for the task. When writing anything, one of the paramount qualities that each writer must display is a unique voice.

Voice is what will always differentiate one writer from another. Unless a writer is quoting, or deliberately copying another writer word for word, differences will always be apparent in the voice of each individual. It is inevitable. No matter how hard we try, we will never know what is in the head of another. We will never know how exactly another person would phrase a certain thought under any particular situation.

In essence, that is part of what makes reading, and overall interaction with other people, so interesting. It is part of the reason why we will choose to call one person over another, or buy one book or musical artist over another.

Two different stories or articles may turn out similar, but style is a concept almost impossible to mimic. A writer's style is like a pattern. It denotes subtleties that, while apparent in most writing, are pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. They are unique to each person and it is impractical to unravel how one person achieved their voice.

It is much more worth while to focus on our own voice. My words are ingrained in a way that are unmistakably mine, and trying to figure out exactly how I achieved my voice is hardly worth the trouble. It is easier to take an idea, such as the lightsaber, and alter it in subtle ways, (By the way this has been done countless times in mainstream media) than it is to copy someone's writing style. Our voice may automatically be unique, but how do writers keep their voice interesting?

Most writers prepare to write in the privacy of their own workspace. That is why few people can copy whatever ritual writers perform to put them in a writing mood. A specific ritual is important to many writers. That doesn't mean that writers regularly light candles and pray over the bible, although that is not out of the question. Writing is a personal thing. Preparation is no different.