UsingUsing VOICE VOICE in writingin writing

When you write with When you write with VOICEVOICE …. ….

Readers feel like you are Readers feel like you are talking right to them.talking right to them.

It helps the reader to get to It helps the reader to get to know you, or the character know you, or the character you are writing about, better.you are writing about, better.

It helps the writer create It helps the writer create characters who seem real and characters who seem real and have real personalities.have real personalities.

Examples of how the use Examples of how the use of voice affects your of voice affects your

writing.writing. I am Jack. I have dark hair I am Jack. I have dark hair

and brown eyes. Hockey is and brown eyes. Hockey is my favourite sport. I am my favourite sport. I am learning how to play the learning how to play the drums but I’m not very good. drums but I’m not very good. I have a big sister and a little I have a big sister and a little brother.brother.

My name is Jack but everyone calls me My name is Jack but everyone calls me JJ. Don’t ask me why because my last JJ. Don’t ask me why because my last name is Renny. I have brown eyes and name is Renny. I have brown eyes and hair that is trying to be black but didn’t hair that is trying to be black but didn’t quite make it. Hockey is the most quite make it. Hockey is the most awesome sport in the world and awesome sport in the world and anyone who doesn’t like it shouldn’t be anyone who doesn’t like it shouldn’t be allowed to live. I am learning to play allowed to live. I am learning to play the drums but my mom would probably the drums but my mom would probably tell you that I’m not very good yet. I tell you that I’m not very good yet. I am a middle child – which is a nice way am a middle child – which is a nice way of saying that I have a bossy big sister of saying that I have a bossy big sister and a tag-along baby brother.and a tag-along baby brother.

Practice using VOICEPractice using VOICE Jonathan’s favourite drink was 7-Up.Jonathan’s favourite drink was 7-Up. My best friend, super jock Jonathan, My best friend, super jock Jonathan,

absolutely loves to guzzle 7-Up during half absolutely loves to guzzle 7-Up during half time, when he plays basketball. It might time, when he plays basketball. It might seem crazy, but after he lets out a seem crazy, but after he lets out a disgusting enormous belch, it seems to disgusting enormous belch, it seems to actually give him more spring in the second actually give him more spring in the second half. half.

My Teacher gives me too much homework.My Teacher gives me too much homework. My grumpy old teacher, Ms. Peanuckle, My grumpy old teacher, Ms. Peanuckle,

seems to find great joy in torturing her seems to find great joy in torturing her students. She actually assigns pages of students. She actually assigns pages of homework every Friday afternoon and homework every Friday afternoon and laughs hysterically while saying, “Enjoy laughs hysterically while saying, “Enjoy your weekend, my prettys!” I hope she your weekend, my prettys!” I hope she catapults off a bridge this weekend!catapults off a bridge this weekend!

My sister sometimes bugs me.My sister sometimes bugs me. I swear that my little sister I swear that my little sister

Samantha, aka “I’m so Samantha, aka “I’m so sickeningly sweet to everyone sickeningly sweet to everyone BUT my brother,” is going to BUT my brother,” is going to send me to the mental asylum send me to the mental asylum one day.one day.

Story time…..See if you can identify Story time…..See if you can identify the use of voice in the sample story.the use of voice in the sample story.

Vocabulary and Vocabulary and Triple-Scoop Triple-Scoop

WordsWords ““The difference between the The difference between the

right word and the almost right word and the almost right word is the difference right word is the difference between lightning and between lightning and lightning bug.” - Mark Twainlightning bug.” - Mark Twain

WORD CHOICE IS IMPORTANT!WORD CHOICE IS IMPORTANT!

Artist vs WriterArtist vs Writer ARTIST: ARTIST: starts with a blank starts with a blank

canvas and creates an image by canvas and creates an image by mixing the paint and carefully mixing the paint and carefully spreading and arranging the spreading and arranging the paint on the canvas.paint on the canvas.

WRITER: WRITER: starts with a blank page starts with a blank page and uses words instead of paint and uses words instead of paint to create images.to create images.

WRITERS:WRITERS: carefully choose, arrange, carefully choose, arrange, and rearrange their words because they and rearrange their words because they want their readers to be able to see the want their readers to be able to see the story in their minds.story in their minds. There are approximately a quarter of There are approximately a quarter of

a million words in the English a million words in the English language to choose from!language to choose from!

ARTIST:ARTIST: spend a long time mixing spend a long time mixing colours until they find just the right colours until they find just the right tone.tone.

WRITERS:WRITERS: need to take time to find the need to take time to find the right words; the best words.right words; the best words.

ARTISTS:ARTISTS: need lots of colour to make a need lots of colour to make a painting interesting.painting interesting. If an artists used the same two colours all If an artists used the same two colours all

the time the pictures would be boring to the time the pictures would be boring to look at.look at.

WRITERS:WRITERS: need a lot of words in order need a lot of words in order to make their writing interesting.to make their writing interesting. If a writer used the same words over and If a writer used the same words over and

over, the writing would be boring to read.over, the writing would be boring to read. HAVING A HUGE PALETTE OF WORDS CAN HAVING A HUGE PALETTE OF WORDS CAN

HELP US BECOME MORE COLOURFUL HELP US BECOME MORE COLOURFUL WRITERS.WRITERS.

Single Scoop vs Triple ScoopSingle Scoop vs Triple Scoop

Single Scoop words:Single Scoop words: ordinary and ordinary and plain words. Just like a single plain words. Just like a single scoop of ice cream – its good but scoop of ice cream – its good but usually leaves you wanting more.usually leaves you wanting more.

Triple Scoop words:Triple Scoop words: amazing amazing words – delicious words that words – delicious words that make you feel full and satisfied.make you feel full and satisfied.

ExamplesExamples

SINGLE SINGLE SCOOPSCOOP

SadSad MadMad GoodGood

TRIPLE SCOOPTRIPLE SCOOP Devastated, Devastated,

depresseddepressed Furious, lividFurious, livid Amazing, Amazing,

fantasticfantastic