Writing in a different voice than you're used to...

It can be tough. I usually write with a very casual, jokey tone, even if the story's of a darker variety. (I just really love plugging in author POV jokes lol) Anyway, I wrote a horror story -- end of the world stuff, plus zombies -- after being insanely enamored with Cormac McCarthy's "The Road".

I shamelessly ripped off McCarthy's style lol Thankfully, a publisher accepted the novel. I just finished a round of revisions at the behest of my editor and, after reviewing her criticisms, I realized how clunky certain passages read. It took me forever to make the changes.

Since I'm not accustomed to writing in a more serious tone, these revisions caused me massive fucking headaches (not to mention how hard it is to fight my urge to plug in a dirty joke right in the middle of certain parts lol). Do any of you have the same problem?

For me, growing comfortable with different styles is 50% fun, 50% ball-bustingly maddening hell.

 

I think I'm pretty good at writing in different voices - I find keeping up those voices over a long project to be more demanding than anything (which is a part of why I never finish them =P)

 

Glad you're getting published. What I enjoy about reading or seeing movies of a serious nature is the juxtaposition of humor smack in the middle of some serious stuff taking place. ie:swartzeneggers sometimes dry humor on the screen or Harlen Coban's flippant remarks in seriously dangerous situations. Good luck-you're on the right track as far as I'm concerned. When will we be able to get it?

 

Should be out by fall, hopefully. I'll probably have another round of edits. I really don't mind revisions. I usually enjoy rewriting certain portions of the story. It's like playing with your old toys.

 

It must be painfull on the one hand to change passages,but on the other hand,it's probably satisfying to make changes that are better than when first written.

 

Oh definitely. Back in college I took a creative writing class. Half the students refused to do revisions. Aside from actually getting the story down in the first place, revisions are the most important part of writing.

 

I can see that just from writing simple stuff on here. I always re-read my posts and still mis-spell or use improper syntax. I've threatened to do some writing,mostly consisting of my sometimes silly stories that are in the archives or like my Monkey Shit story that I bumped. Should have been Monkey Shines,but I couldn't change it the title of the thread. Idle threats,it seems.

 

My reading voice is Morgan Freeman.