This was a panel given by agent Michelle Witte, who has also authored a couple of books. One is The Craptastic Guide to Pseudo-Swearing, something you children’s, MG, and even some YA writers may find valuable. The other is The Faker’s Guide to the Classics, a snarky version of cliff notes for those who want to up on the classics, but don’t have the time to read them. Having read some of the Craptastic Guide, Witte’s snark is something you’ll find extremely enjoyable. They’re both available to Kindle sample, so give ’em a try.
Okay, NOTES:
She said there’s three parts to writing that form the “story” triangle of sorts:
- Voice
- Writing
- Plot
Two areas of the “triangle” can be bigger than the other. But if one is big while the other two remain weak it may be why your story falls flat.
CHARACTER
Character is the central part of voice. It’s the character who brings voice out onto the page.
“The writer’s voice in a novel generally belongs to a character.” –Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
There are two kinds of voice: the writer’s voice and the voice of an individual book. The main character defines the voice of the book.
Take Mary Higgins Clark, for example. Her novels all sound the same. Your writing is what works for you. Each book should have its own unique voice.
Lit and Scribbles with Jae 