![\"Panel_DecaturBookFestival\"](\"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Panel_DecaturBookFestival.jpg\")
<\/a>In today’s recap of the 2013 Decatur Book Festival Writers Conference, The Writing Well<\/i> introduces North Carolina novelist Marybeth Whalen<\/a>, a wife and proud mother of six, whose penned four Southern novels, her latest, The Wishing Tree<\/a>,<\/i> published this past spring. Three of her last four novels are set in Sunset Beach, N.C.<\/p>\n \u201cI try to tell a love story all centered around one object unifying two people, usually against all odds,\u201d says Marybeth, who admits that \u201cvoice\u201d \u2013 the unique way you tell a story — comes to her naturally.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery one of us has a unique voice. Mine is a little more direct. I\u2019m not real flowery in my voice. One of the best things friends tell me when they read my book is \u2018I could hear you. I knew this by you. It comes out.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n During her presentation, Marybeth shared with conference attendees highlights of a recent blog post <\/a>she penned celebrating her son turning 21.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I look at him, I don\u2019t see the man he is now; I see that little boy in the car seat we brought home. I see that little seven-year-old boy who couldn\u2019t stop shaking the night he came back from Washington D.C. saying, \u2018Mom, I can\u2019t explain it, but that city is in my blood!\u2019 \u00a0<\/span>I see that 15-and-a-half year old who could not wait to get those car keys… get in our car and drive away. I also see my 21-year-old son, who next week will ship off to the Navy. I see the whole arc of who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n She explains that as writers, we bring all of who we are to our characters \u2013 tapping our experiences and feelings from childhood through adulthood.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I write an older character, I imagine the woman I\u2019ll\u2026be. \u00a0<\/span>All those voices are already within each and every one of us; it\u2019s just trusting that on the page.\u201d<\/p>\n She quoted Storyfixer and writing coach Larry Brooks, who once said, \u201cNovels don\u2019t sell because of writing voice, but they do get rejected because of writing voice. What sells are great stories told well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVoice is the game changer. Yes, plot and pacing are important; setting is so important. But, I think it\u2019s that authentic writing voice that wraps its fingers around our heart and makes us feel we know this character.\u201d<\/p>\n She cited the character of Lily in Sue Monk Kidd\u2019s The Secret Life of Bees<\/i> as a wonderful example of voice done well.\u00a0 \u201cI loved her, I rooted for her, I cheered for her. It wasn’t just the circumstances of the story, it was her heart, her view of the world \u2013 that\u2019s voice.\u201d<\/p>\n Voice Writing Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n Indispensable Tool: James Scott Bell’s Voice Journal<\/strong><\/p>\n This free-form, stream-of-consciousness journal is all written in a character\u2019s voice, from writing prompts you introduce. She advised us to write at least five to ten minutes without stopping, letting the character speak for him or herself. In the early stages of your novel, the voice journal will help you \u201chear\u201d the characters talk in a way that is unique to them. During writing, you may stop and ask what a character is thinking or feeling about the story. This deepens the emotions in the character and helps solidify and intensify conflict.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n You should have voice journals for all your major characters and when your stuck, start a new voice journal for the point-of-view character and ask him or her some questions about what\u2019s going on. Ask your character:<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What do you want?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Why do you want it?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Who or what stands in your way?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What will happen if you don\u2019t get what you want?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What will happen if you do?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What is your greatest strength?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What is your greatest weakness?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What do you fear the most?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What makes you angry?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Who did you admire growing up?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Who did you fear the most?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>How do you handle frustration?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Are you an extrovert or an introvert, pessimist or optimist?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>How easy is it for you to trust people?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Do you tend to keep things or get rid of them?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Do you have any secrets?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Do you like taking risks?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What is your favorite food?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What stands in the way of your happiness right now?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>What would you like to be remembered for?<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>How do you think other people see you?<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Marybeth offered these tips to strengthen voice we all can employ in our writing:<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>For homework, Marybeth provided attendees with a \u201cVoice Journal\u201d handout courtesy of James Scott Bell\u2019s Elements of Fiction Writing:<\/em> <\/a>Conflict and Suspense<\/a>, <\/i>calling it one of most effective writing tools she’s ever used.<\/p>\n