Comments on: Question of the Month: Voice

By: Monthly Wrap: Sore Throat

Monthly Wrap: Sore Throat — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:31:39 +0000

[...] was glad to hear your stories of stutters and loud laughs and nasal tape-recordings. For those of you I haven’t met in real life, it’s a nice way to sharpen the picture of [...]

By: SusanHenderson

SusanHenderson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:22:00 +0000

I’m so glad you’re here, Mary!

Is that a Virginia thing? Maybe it is, because the musical flow of a piece is even more important to me than character and plot.

I still read to my kids, and plan to when they grow mustaches. My heart will break if they tell me to stop.

By: Mary Akers

Mary Akers — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:59:43 +0000

Well, I’m even later, so there! I hate my own voice on things like answering machines and voice mail, although I do think I’m a good reader, and people have told me that independent of my own thoughts. I love to inhabit the voices–both of the narrator and the characters. I’ve read too many books aloud (to my kids) to count. About a year ago, my youngest (who is now 13) finally told me, “I can do it faster, Mom.” It broke my heart a little, but I know he’s right. It’s time for him to hear the voices in his books without my interpretation of them.

And Sue, did I know you were from Virginia?? How did I miss that? I’m a Virginia gal, too. I can slip back into the cadence of it in a heartbeat. The musical flow of a piece of writing is very important to me. I know it’s from my Virginia roots. (Pronounced “ruuts.”)

By: 5speener0

5speener0 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:36:36 +0000

Andrea! Your accent in more confusing than mine!

By: SusanHenderson

SusanHenderson — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:07:15 +0000

How fun to hear about your hybrid accent! I’m a dirt-under-the-fingernails-from-working-in-the-yard type, too.

By: 5speener0

5speener0 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:22:57 +0000

Late, AGAIN! I just have a hard time with time.

My voice is a little strange.

–I’ve been told it sounds sexy, as if I’m reclined on a chaise, eating bon-bons, clad only in a skimpy lingerie thingy. I don’t think it sounds that way AT ALL, and, no, that bon-bon eating activity is not me. I’m more the dirt under my fingernails from working in the yard type.

–I do have a bit of an unusual accent. I was born in Greece and lived there until age 8. I lived in Australia from age 8-21, have lived in the U.S. for 30 years and I’v ebeen exposed to a bona-fide southern boy for 16+ of those years. My Australian relatives say I sound like an American, Americans aren’t at all sure about my origin and accent and a Canadian I was on the phone with recently said he loved my southern accent!

–When I hear my recorded voice, I think it sounds schizophrenic, which make sense when you know how many auditory influences have entered my brain through those ears on each side of my head. When I hear AND see myself, I can add to that description that ‘my mouth looks like a serpent trying to decide which direction to go in’!!! If I can get to it, I’ll post a link to a youtube video…then you can see if I’ve described all of this accurately.

By: 5speener0

5speener0 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:10:21 +0000

I agree, Susan. I love that description. It’s as original as apple pie.

Oh, that internal seething–bad for ya. Of course, I should know, I do it too.

By: SusanHenderson

SusanHenderson — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:02:36 +0000

So glad you’re writing!

By: eileen_rita

eileen_rita — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:51:32 +0000

haha yes forget Hobbits, The Conchords are our claim to fame at the moment. I do worry how the world must picture the average New Zealander?

I did spend a lot of yesterday thinking about my old school days after visiting here. It would be nice to write something fresh, and for myself. We will see where the thoughts go.

By: SusanHenderson

SusanHenderson — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:10:47 +0000

My kids’ favorite band is from New Zealand, so we hear the accent A LOT around here. http://www.myspace.com/conchords

I’m so intrigued by your story of the mask and the silly voices and the mean girls. I hope you write a story about it.