The Writer's Voice

Reflections on writing from a master.For a writer, voice is the problem that never lets you go. For a reader, voice is a profound mystery. What is it? How does it develop and why should it even matter? How does the reader hear and respond to an authentic voice, and what happens when the cult of personality threatens to subvert it? These are some of the slippery questionsThe Writer's Voice addresses with confidence and clarity.Aspiring young writers often confuse voice with stylishness, but the voice that matters has the whole weight of a life, however young, behind it. In this compelling book, renowned poet, author, and critic A. Alvarez defines voice as the vehicle by which a writer expresses his aliveness, hooks his readers, and keeps them listening. These powerful reflections from a lifetime's experience belong alongside John Gardner'sThe Art of Fiction, E. M. Forster'sAspects of the Novel, and William Zinsser'sOn Writing Well. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.