You’re told that an event that’s dear to your heart — an annual fair, festival, or conference — will be cancelled forever (or taken over by an evil organization). Write about it. For your twist, read your piece aloud, multiple times. Hone that voice of yours!
Think about an event you’ve attended and loved. Your hometown’s annual fair. That life-changing music festival. A conference that shifted your worldview. Imagine you’re told it will be cancelled forever or taken over by an evil corporate force.
How does that make you feel?
Let’s consider your voice again. This topic can be tricky, as you might not be sure what your voice sounds like — yet. But it’s not that it’s not there, as Chuck Wendig explains in his “Ten Things I’d Like to Say to Young Writers” post. It just takes time to hone it:
You will chase your voice like a dog chasing a car, but you’ll never catch it. Because you were your voice all along. You were never the dog. You were always the car.
Our favorite writers, from Jane Austen to Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Paul Auster, have distinct voices. You read their writing and hear their words in your head. From their word choices, to the rhythm of their sentences, to the intimate spaces they create — right there on the page — they sound like no one else but them.
Today’s twist: While writing this post, focus again on your own voice. Pay attention to your word choice, tone, and rhythm. Read each sentence aloud multiple times, making edits as you read through. Before you hit “Publish,” read your entire piece out loud to ensure it sounds like you.
Need a helping hand? Head to The Commons.
It’s true our voices are at our best when we are writing passionately. I am a freelance writer and some of the best feedback I get is from clients for whom the subject matter inspired me and will inspire passion in others. Passionate writing is contagious and its these passionate subjects that draw most people in.
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Well put……….!
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I absolutely agree- if my heart isn’t in what I’m writing about the insincerity shows
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Hello,
Here is my Day 15 offering, My Youth No More.
http://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/my-youth-no-more/
Another one of those Writing 101 tearing it from me things.
Much Respect
Ronovan
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Here’s my day fifteen offering; http://dx0330.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/youll-always-find-your-way-back/
I hope you enjoy it (and I sincerely hope that it makes sense) please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment telling me if I ended it too suddenly, or if it doesn’t make sense in general; I’ll try to take the criticism well,
Cheers,
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Cheers!
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Thanks so much for the Chuck Wendig link. Amazing stuff there! Even for us non-18 to 21 year olds.
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Sure — it’s a good post, and it’s fun poking around his site for other solid advice on writing.
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haha, very nicely put.
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this is probably the longest piece ive written so far. if anyone feels patient, feel free to read=)
https://guthonestfaith.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/all-talk/
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Wow, this was very emotional. I loved the article. I feel as if this is something you truly believe in just by the way it is written. Very good job. =)
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oh, so nice of you! really touched me to receive this comment. thanks for positive feed back
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We care to read! thank you!
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thank you for your time=) much appreciated!
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My attempt today; my ideal writing style tends to be rather dry in places, so I multiplied that by about five thousand for this, but I also like to draw a lot of pretentious parallels with hope and fate in my writing, so I’ve included factors of that. Hope you like it! 🙂
http://thehypestblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/writing-101-day-fifteen-your-voice-download-festival/
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Cool.
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Have a great weekend to you all: http://byswav.com/2014/06/20/weekly-photo-challenge-extra-extra/ Swav
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Hi there — great to see you participating in this photo challenge:
https://wordpress.com/dailypost/dp_photo_challenge/extra-extra/
In the future, do post your responses to the appropriate post — this post here is a writing assignment for Writing 101. Thanks!
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I got all emotional writing this one, even after all these years!
http://lindaswritingblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/were-moving
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Really nice story. Thanks.
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This is hard one for me. I have not the slightest idea what to write about.
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This post is something that is deep and emotional for you. It is something you would have a strong emotion at the thought of cancelling. It does not have to be something that is truly happening, although it does help. Just find something, maybe an annual family reunion that will never happen again or an art festival that you have attended every year.
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Ditto.
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If some kind of event doesn’t come to mind, feel free to interpret this loosely — an unexpected change in something or someone. A previous school. A childhood best friend. A TV show you’ve watched a long time that has gone downhill. Anything.
If that doesn’t get you started, think about something — anything — you’re absolutely passionate about: Soccer. Environmental politics. Teaching. Cooking. Then perhaps think about’s dear to you about it, and how you’d feel if some aspect of it changed, for the worse.
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Well here’s mine. Short, but as close as I could get to the topic. Thanks!
http://gtylermills.com/2014/06/21/day-15/
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As writers, we all go through this stage. Taking whatever the mind is focusing on, whether its the fact that I can’t come up with anything to write about or how good that cupcake was that I had at lunchtime. Take from all avenues and you will be rewarded with writing experience you never imagined.
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I think everybody has something to miss. I am not an exception http://joantatley.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/the-sea-inside/
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Nice story. Thanks.
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Thank you for reading. Glad you enjoyed it.
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http://thethingsiyell.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/writing-101-day-fifteen-your-voice-will-find-you/
No more Atlanta Braves…
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Wow. Really nice and well written. I can feel your sadness.
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Thank you so much! That means a lot
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Here is my offering for Day fifteen:
http://nubianwaters.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/day-fifteen-it-got-cancelled/
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It’s so true, and I think one thing that needs to be learnt is editing without loosing your voice. All work need to be edited, but it is so easy to put an unrecognisable mask of phrases over the original piece to the point it sounds like it has come from somebody else.
Whilst it is easy to spill thoughts on paper, I personally find the challenge is maintaining some kind of personality when editing. I do agree the voice is always there, it just takes courage to go with it and share it (especially if its a unique style)
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In my assignment, the event that I talked about is David Mitchell’s webchat yesterday.
http://bookrhapsody.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/if-david-mitchell-stopped-writing-books/
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and….. in three… two …. one…
Here you go.. this is the raw-est i can come up with. So pure. So real.
http://taptapthis.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/dude-where-s-my-croak/
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Here is my daily contribution, this was a little tough for me but I feel I did okay. I would really appreciate ANY feedback as I took this course to enhance my writing skills. I will also be taking some other courses since this is a passion. Please read and feel free to read my prior posts and give feedback for those as well!
http://www.raphsodibreece.wordpress.com
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http://shadowwolfsllife.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/moving-writing-101-day-fifteen/
I tried here. I know it isn’t something that’s normal for me to talk about. If you have any feedback thank you. Check out my response to the other challenges.
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Yes i’m around lovie.. Just commented on your post
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Thank you so much for the inspiration!
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Happy blogging U to all. My post.http://keempres.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/writing-101-day-fifteen-your-voice-will-find-you/
please i need you comment. Thank you so much
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My take here. Not really an event but more of a personal milestone that changed me. http://voicingaloud.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/i-was-never-the-same-again/
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http://wp.me/p4qNGz-7p
Not feeling all that great today, but this was the first thing I thought of. It’s pretty vague on purpose. Good therapy as well.
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Utter chaos will result? All depends on who you are….maybe a slight pause in action…
http://philosophermouseofthehedge.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/slight-paws-in-action/
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Day Fifteen – my post “Gone But Never Forgotten” — is here: http://www.buddycushmanart.com I would love feedback.
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hehe well I have caught up for 3 days worth here, short but sweet but i obviously work better under pressure. I think I have a voice, but i guess its for my readers to let me know whether I do have one or not. Would love some feedback now that I have finally caught up….pretty please?? Anyone around?
http://eclecticoddsnsods.com/2014/06/20/writing-101-day-thirteen-fourteen-fifteen-a-brief-catch-up-a-variety-to-please-some-not-all/
Justine xx
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Hi Justine, yes i’m around, just commented on your blog x
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Her is my take. I am not sure I got the voice. Clip Clop Away in Yoder, Kansas http://kansamuse.me/2014/06/20/clip-clop-away-in-yoder-kansas/
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Day 13 – In which I lament the hypothetical discontinuation of my college org
I can’t seem to think of an event so I wrote about how I would feel if my college org would discontinue. Close enough, right? (nope, it really isn’t haha)
I tried writing about a cancelled show (RIP Veronica Mars and Community) but I didn’t feel like going down that dark path. LOL
This is also isn’t as formal and polished as the other things I’ve written for Writing 101 but heck it’s about finding my voice, right? 😀 Any kind of feedback would be lovely!
http://thatgirlfromfriday.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/i-dont-want-to-live-in-a-world-without-up-rcy/
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I’m stretching the rules a bit but… http://pieniajaristyksia.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/the-festival-of-a-cotton-candy-girl/
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I’m going to audio tape my on my laptop.
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Thank you so much for making me write 🙂 http://stuteenag.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/because-somethings-just-last-a-lifetime/
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O is for opaque
http://alphabetstory.wordpress.com/
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