112: Voice Isn't Everything, Is It?

112: Voice Isn't Everything, Is It?

Today on our show, we’re talking about voice in a new way. We always say, write like you speak. That’s one of the most important writing tenets, because if you write like you speak, you’re writing in the most truthful way. If you curse, curse. If you don’t speak in fancy prose, don’t write fancy prose.

To hear more about voice, listen to Episode 43: Voices in Your Head, and Episode 44: Voices Carry.  

On today's episode, we ask the question, What if your physical voice says something about you you don’t want it to say? Also, does your physical voice translate onto the page? 

You'll hear an essay by Mark Jason Williams, an award-winning playwright, essayist, and traveloguer who writes for The Washington Post, HuffPost, Thrillist, and more. He is currently working on an essay collection. 

His story is called You’d Be Cuter with a Deeper Voice. A version of this story was previously published in Out Magazine.

You can also find Mark on Twitter and Facebook

Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories and learn a little about how to write your own stories. Writing Class Radio is equal parts heart and art. By heart we mean the truth in a story. By art we mean the craft of writing. No matter what’s going on in our lives, writing class is where we tell the truth. It’s where we work out our shit, and figure out who we are. There’s no place in the world like writing class and we want to bring you in.

Writing Class Radio is produced by Allison Langer, Andrea Askowitz, and Courtney Devon of Sound Off Media. Courtney is also the lead singer for Amadians, one of our contributing musicans. Theme music by Justina Shandler. Additional music by Amadians.

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