The Voices in my HeadNiche.. What Niche?
October 15th 2006 05:22
I think the most frustrating part of being a writer is finding your voice. To know what it is that you write or convey, as an artist, that forces people to respond to you. What you think is the most brilliant thing you have ever written, is often ignored by readers.
Personally speaking, I want to be a dark, Gothic writer full of pain and misery. I can write that way, I can also write with a lyrical quality to my 'voice' that is poetic and romantic. But more times than not, my writing is the physical comedy equivalent of shoving a pie in one's face. For example, TomC posted a question on AussieCityLife.com asking: "What would you legally change your name to?" My response is as follows:
"Oh I would definately change my name. You can't imagine the taunts I received as a child...
"Hey Voices...is that your mama calling for you..or one of your other personalities.."
It was horrible, because you see, often I couldn't tell the difference. I would run back to my house repeatedly to ask mom if she had called me, and she would be all, "No, Voices...and if you keep asking me that, I'll beat you upside the head."
Well, then that made things worse, because when I would get a sound beating about the head, more voices showed up in my head.
So, one day, I decided that I would just tell the bullies that it was in fact my voices calling, and not check with my mother. Well, unfortunately, it wasn't the voices that day...it was my mother. Can you imagine...well by the time she got done beating me about the head, I was not only hearing voices but hearing double...
Now, its like hearing in stereo...very sad story, actually.
So, if I could change my name, I think it would be to: Multiple Personality Disorder with Psychotic Tendencies. Sure, people would still make fun of it. But they wouldn't do it to my face, would they? *smile*"
Now, there were several options in answering this question. The first being that I could have taken the time to look up the meanings of several names. Second, I could have waxed poetic about beautiful names of characters in books. No, my first initial reaction was to put: Princess Consuela BananaHammock-(as Phoebe on 'Friends' did when she went to change her name to her married name.)
I am not sure if it is laziness or what you would call it, but this tends to be my voice. I am coming to terms with that slowly. Now, there is a lot of darkness beneath, -(I listen to Evanescence and Alice in Chains for godssake!)-(I can't stop.) Maybe I do this to hide behind the laugh track. If people are busy with the laugh track, they won't ask too many questions. I won't have to reveal too much of myself. I'm really not sure and I don't want to make a big thing of that, just saying it's a possibility.
My question here is, is it necessary for a writer to have a niche? Can a writer truly be successful in today's world writing in several different voices? Do you have a niche? What is it born out of? Are you okay with your niche? And finally, would you rather be gifted in another niche?
Voices~
Personally speaking, I want to be a dark, Gothic writer full of pain and misery. I can write that way, I can also write with a lyrical quality to my 'voice' that is poetic and romantic. But more times than not, my writing is the physical comedy equivalent of shoving a pie in one's face. For example, TomC posted a question on AussieCityLife.com asking: "What would you legally change your name to?" My response is as follows:
"Oh I would definately change my name. You can't imagine the taunts I received as a child...
"Hey Voices...is that your mama calling for you..or one of your other personalities.."
It was horrible, because you see, often I couldn't tell the difference. I would run back to my house repeatedly to ask mom if she had called me, and she would be all, "No, Voices...and if you keep asking me that, I'll beat you upside the head."
Well, then that made things worse, because when I would get a sound beating about the head, more voices showed up in my head.
So, one day, I decided that I would just tell the bullies that it was in fact my voices calling, and not check with my mother. Well, unfortunately, it wasn't the voices that day...it was my mother. Can you imagine...well by the time she got done beating me about the head, I was not only hearing voices but hearing double...
Now, its like hearing in stereo...very sad story, actually.
So, if I could change my name, I think it would be to: Multiple Personality Disorder with Psychotic Tendencies. Sure, people would still make fun of it. But they wouldn't do it to my face, would they? *smile*"
Now, there were several options in answering this question. The first being that I could have taken the time to look up the meanings of several names. Second, I could have waxed poetic about beautiful names of characters in books. No, my first initial reaction was to put: Princess Consuela BananaHammock-(as Phoebe on 'Friends' did when she went to change her name to her married name.)
I am not sure if it is laziness or what you would call it, but this tends to be my voice. I am coming to terms with that slowly. Now, there is a lot of darkness beneath, -(I listen to Evanescence and Alice in Chains for godssake!)-(I can't stop.) Maybe I do this to hide behind the laugh track. If people are busy with the laugh track, they won't ask too many questions. I won't have to reveal too much of myself. I'm really not sure and I don't want to make a big thing of that, just saying it's a possibility.
My question here is, is it necessary for a writer to have a niche? Can a writer truly be successful in today's world writing in several different voices? Do you have a niche? What is it born out of? Are you okay with your niche? And finally, would you rather be gifted in another niche?
Voices~
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Comment by Wendi
At the risk of getting slandered for my appreciation of Shel Silverstein, I'll again refer to him as my example. Two names, two niches, one author. On one hand, we have the cute, fuzzy, adorable and poetic children's author, Shel Silverstein, and on the other hand, we have a man who writes often for Playboy magazine, a media outlet most assuradely not intended for children. In this niche, he is Uncle Shelby.
Nora Roberts is another. Her romance novels are under the name Nora Roberts; her mystery novels are under J.D. Robb.
As for me, I write a little bit of everything and haven't bothered to play the name game. I am Wendi Friend and that's who I am, although many assume that is a pseudonym. It isn't, I really am a "Friend" and I've got the driver's license to prove it. *LOL* -
The nice thing about sticking with your own name, regardless of the niche, is that people begin to connect to your name, regardless of what's being written.
I believe we're a diversified life form within ourselves. We can be sentimental or snyde, tender or tough, moody or mellow - it all depends on which way the wind is blowing. If I tried to change my name for every style of writing I'd produced, I'd most definitely be at risk of being considered schizophrenic. *LOL*
Just my two cents!
W
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I absolutely agree with you in many respects...
We have many different facets to our personalities. There are many that create different voices in our writing. I have figured out since I have posted these comments about the pursuit of voice, that I am actually pursuing my signature, as with the example you listed about a well known artist, you simply know it is their work. That is what I am hoping to find.
I love your comments. They are so insightful and inspiring. Thank you and please, do come back!
Voices~
Comment by Wendi
There's one "signature" of my writing I'm none too pleased with: confusing tense. I do it all the time. I think that's because when I'm writing, I lose sense of time.
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I do it too. I find it very confusing because I know what I meant...and the reader should too! :c) Thank God for writing college.
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
That may be one of the truest statements to be made. When I wrote this, I was in a dark place with writing. Since then, I have devoted a lot of time to forcing myself to write and forget about what someone will think, if they will like it and if it makes sense to someone outside the experience I am writing about. Now, I have a much clearer idea of who I am as a writer.
Thank you for commenting,
Come back,
Voices~