Voice

Voice Poster

       

In my humble opinion voice is the most important aspect of any piece of writing. Sure this does not apply as much to scientific writing where it is solely to display facts through a very clear lens is the goal but it is crucial in many forms of opinionated writing. Voice is so crucial in any writing practice because it is what separates you from the field of other writers. What unique characteristics or ideals do you bring to the table that make you look a something or someone in the way you do.   

        As some who lives, breaths and eats cars I’m going to use an automotive journalism example to further my point about voice in writing. In the automotive journalist world the same set of cars will be reviewed by various publishes but in the end after reading all them they can sound repetitive and dull. For instance when the new Corvette (C7) Stingray came out I must have read an upwards of 10 plus articles on it. All with the same basic tone and conclusion about the car. However there in one person in this industry who no matter what will tell it different from the rest of the lot that man is Jeremy Clarkson. For instance back when Ferrari launched its all-new 458 Italia, their flagship mid-engined supercar, journalist from all publishing companies had only great things to say about it. They said it was fast, fun, sharp and things of that nature. But when Jeremy had his go in it he was more than thrilled by it. He exclaimed, “This car is so good I wouldn’t care if the seats had spikes and it ate one of my legs!” He brought an entire new vision and emotion to reports on this car and how it was making all the journalist feel. He was somehow the most enthralling to see and really gave the reader a proper feel of what it was like to drive this amazing piece of machine. This is the power of voice in writing.

        To quote the CCC reading, “creating a written voice through which to communicate with others is a useful way to think of writing.” Its not only creating your own voice but its making it your own that will lead to your success as a writer no matter the rhetorical situation. While developing your writing you should also be developing your voice as it changes through your various real world experiences. You writing should be a lens looking inside you.