Voice Lessons: Uncovering and Claiming Your Unique, Creative Voice
You're a writer, artist, singer, choreographer. Think Lady Gaga, Judy Garland, Prince. Hemingway, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien. Picasso, Van Gogh. You're tired of trying to uncover your voice by imitating other artists. If you've peeled back the layers of your voice and think you finally recognize it as yours, do you have the courage to claim it? These are the questions we aim to answer during my biweekly podcast, Voice Lessons: Covering and Claiming Your Unique, Creative Voice.
Voice Lessons: Uncovering and Claiming Your Unique, Creative Voice
How sid sibo Uses Diversity and Worldview to Convey Voice in Her Writing
I had the pleasure of talking with sid sibo, an award-winning author living just west of the Continental Divide in the traditional homeland of the Shoshone and Bannock people. Her debut novel, 'The Scent of Distant Family,' serves as the cornerstone of our discussion today.
This book captivated me instantly with its intriguing title, and after our discussion, I believe it will captivate you as well. We start by getting into what inspired sid to write the book and how she navigated its unique structure, which includes seven points of view, two of which are animals.
Sid discusses the challenges and artistic choices involved in creating a narrative that balances diverse perspectives while maintaining a coherent and engaging story. We also explore the concept of voice in writing, and how the imprecision of human language can be both a challenge and an opportunity for writers. She also shares her insights on developing character voices, using examples from her own work as well as other renowned authors like Barbara Kingsolver.
One of the most compelling aspects of our discussion is the representation of diversity, both human and symbolic, in sid's novel. She explains how her background in anthropology and sociology informed her portrayal of various characters and settings, challenging common perceptions about uncommon places, like rural Wyoming.
sid's experience and wisdom make this episode a treasure trove of insights for any writer looking to find and claim their voice, while also respecting the diverse perspectives of their characters and readers.
Key Topics:
- The inspiration behind the novel and its unique narration
- Displaying voice through both human and animal characters
- The worldview of an author creates a whole other layer to voice
- Choosing the structure of her book to suit an unconventional narrative
- What makes a voice unique to tell a story
- How notable authors, writers, and dancers denote voice in their work
- Bringing diversity into voice in a setting that’s not particularly diverse
- Fiction is where empathy is most likely to grow
- Balancing authentic voice and worldview of characters while being respectful of the readers’ POV
- Letting go of fear and being playful to discover your unique voice
- Practicing deep listening outside of yourself to improve your voice
Connect with sid online:
Website: https://www.sidsibo.com/
Blog: https://www.sidsibo.com/blog
Instagram: @sibo.burro
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Scent-Distant-Family-Novel/dp/1496240278
Find more from Jill:
Email: jill@thewritersrefuge.com
Website: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/
Writing Coaching Programs: https://www.thewritersrefuge.com/coaching
Sign up for my free 3x weekly writing session: write to jill@thewritersrefuge.com for ZOOM info
Special thanks to LVDY for allowing us to use their song, Saltwater, in the intro and outro of the podcast!
