Comments on: Finding “Real”

By: Denise

Denise — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 01:29:00 +0000

Well said! Marylin Monroe is another example of someone who went through a period of finding her “real”.

By: Solid gold creativity

Solid gold creativity — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 05:00:50 +0000

Of course! Hemingway aped Gertrude Stein! Great observation. He probably would have been at her soirees in Rue Whatever, taking notes. A really interesting post.

By: Mike Laughlin

Mike Laughlin — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:00:46 +0000

Thanks, this exploration was useful on several levels … I’m going to “mark as new” and read a few more times … as I’ve done with a dog-eared, Art as War, many, many times.

By: Joshunda

Joshunda — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:38:31 +0000

This is great and really resonated with me. I think the question of what is real has changed with the popularity of social media and online connection. Some people are not able to separate their personas from their writing voices; and whether that’s a good thing or not ultimately is determined by the reader – what is helpful to them, if they feel like they can see themselves in what is being written and/or if they can find aspects of the work that mirrors back to them something that feels like it authentically mirrors their experience.

By: Ellynne

Ellynne — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:36:00 +0000

Thought provoking piece. Nicely done. “Real” may not be transparent. If a person or character is conflicted, or has an inner dialogue with the self, what emerges through those filters is the self chosen to be revealed, like a PR strategist. It’s a layered process. Regarding Seinfeld characters, fleshing out a fictional character so well the audience knows his foibles, anticipated responses, etc. as well as the actor/director. There’s a track record, a consistency that may not be authentic, but it allows us to buy in and suspend disbelief, because we feel that we know these characters. Dickens did the same thing.

By: Warren J. Duffey

Warren J. Duffey — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:13:42 +0000

Matt! that’s the point-it’s All nonsense–Finding YOUR voice may come through the process of seeing what other’s write as fancified,superior musings.How important are the real things YOU do and say? Begin to understand how you have decided what is really important to you and what is nonsense to you and you may find your voice in the middle of this and everything else.FURTHERMORE! Continue to read Writing Wednesdays.I AGREE with you-However-I enjoy all kinds of intellectual nonsense-Read “Death in the Afternoon” under WAR STORIES on this,Steven Pressfeild’s ‘SIGHT’ FOR YOU-Understanding what finding your voice is may be part of the fantastic,scary,joyful,daredevil, journey of discovery-Work hard and GOOD LUCK!

By: Joe Jansen

Joe Jansen — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:30:54 +0000

Quoting you from above: “We can never speak or write in a real voice. But we can write in a voice that sounds real and feels real and works better than real.”

As I’m reading “The Art and Craft of Writing Historical Fiction,” by James Alexander Thom, I see him speaking to that very thought: “… one of the most important words in the historical fiction business [is] verisimilitude… VERISIMILITUDE: The appearance or semblance of truth. As Mark Twain once said, the difference between history and fiction is that fiction has to be believable.”

Thanks for the post.

By: Basilis

Basilis — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:10:13 +0000

Once again great article!

One thing is to know somethings by your writing instinct and an other to understand them truly -through words-, as we repeatedly experience in this site/articles/books.

By: June

June — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 04:32:00 +0000

Have heard and read a lot about “voice.” This is by far the best explanation of it; simple to the point of almost not making sense. I really like this.

By: Jerry Ellis

Jerry Ellis — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 23:34:22 +0000

Steven, if I may be respectfully honest, I was disappointed with your post last week. I came away feeling let down. Today, however, you have in my eyes not only redeemed yourself but glowed golden. You were concise, clear and profound about the “voice.” I am especially fascinated with this because I am just finishing a new book, Ciao From Roma! Spring in the Eternal City of Love. Having lived in Rome every spring and autumn–I am an American–for ten years, I finally took the leap of faith to address my experiences in Rome, the Romans I have gotten to know well and the Roman culture with its many nuances. “Voice” is certainly paramount in any book, but to convincingly write of another culture–one most Americans will never know firsthand–has been a fascinating challenge. Readers will start deciding this month, when the book is released on Kindle, if I
“put them there” but the narrative came easily, thanks to the “voice” that seemed to rise from my soul. Thanks, Steven, for doing such a wondrous and insightful piece today!