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Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

Do you hear a voice when you read fiction?

29/6/2017

6 Comments

 
Signing copies of my new novel, Underneath, for a couple of acquaintances recently, I was interested (especially given my recent post on the unconscious and hallucinations) when both said they heard a voice when reading a novel to themselves. Because they know me, and I have a distinctive voice (and not necessarily in a good way), I wondered if they thought they’d hear my voice when reading my novel (even if it is narrated by a man), as has been reported before (I didn’t ask just because I’m a narcissist). But no, one said she hears her own voice, the other a voice specific to the story she’s reading. I wonder what that’s all about.
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I don’t know where to begin researching questions this raises for me about the nature of the reading experience. Hearing one’s own voice seems like an internalisation of the reading aloud we do as children or the inner speech explored in the non-fiction book, The Voices Within. Creating (presumably unconsciously) a new voice for each novel seems fascinatingly versatile, and I found myself envious of the enrichment this might bring. I wonder if there’s a difference between first-person and third-person voices; whether one would experience the former as the character chatting away to us directly and the latter more like someone telling us about someone else. I wonder if the author’s use of dialect enhances or detracts from the robustness of this voice. Although I don’t personally have a sense of hearing a voice when I read fiction, the fact that I sometimes stumble over the vernacular suggests that this phenomena, perhaps in a weaker form, exists for me too.
 
My Australian friend, and stalwart supporter of this and many other blogs,
Norah Colvin, tends to “read” audiobooks, and has often remarked that the reader makes a big difference to her enjoyment of the book. I wonder what becomes of the voice that some hear when reading when listening to a story: does the external cancel out the internal or do the two interact?
 
In preparing a piece of work for publication, authors are advised to read our words aloud. I’m not sure what makes this form of giving voice so powerful, but it’s remarkable how well the ear can pick out glitches not noticed by the eyes scouring page or screen.
 

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With the author’s connection to the voice of her story likely to be particularly strong, what’s it like to hear it read by someone else? Neither of my novels being (yet) available in audio format (although a recent blog discussion suggests I ought to try and get my head around Audible), I haven’t had this experience with the long form, but a couple of e-zine publishers have pursued this with my short stories. The first time, a few years ago, although the reader spoke clearly, his rhythms were totally alien to what I thought were mine, as if he were trying to waltz while I was doing the tango. I now think I might have been too precious as, rather than leaving listeners to judge for themselves, this story never reached the public’s ears.

The second time was last weekend, when Lily Lowe-Myers read my short story, Across the Table, on the Andy Bungay show on Wandsworth radio. (You can listen too: it starts about one hour and eight minutes (1.08) into the programme and lasts about ten minutes). She reads it beautifully, and a lot better than I would, although – and I think it’s more of an observation than a criticism – there are still places in which the rhythm and emphasis is different to mine.

I hope to return to the topic of “reading voice” if and when my thoughts are more coherent. Meanwhile, here’s the chance to catch up on all of June’s reviews by clicking on the image. Consistent with the tourism theme of two of this month’s novels, another two on migration, as well as a post on travelling and homecoming, my reading has taken me beyond the UK to Germany, the Middle East, USA, Australia, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Ireland – just the way I like it: without leaving the house.

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Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
6 Comments
Kate Evans
30/6/2017 09:31:16 am

Interesting post, Anne. I think I do hear 'different' voices when I am reading a novel, especially one which absorbs me, though I suspect the underlying timbre is mine. And I do think about how to represent different character voices in my writing - an early criticism being that all my characters sounded like me. Sometimes I would tell the reader this character speaks in a particular way, sometimes I try and reflect it in the language and rhythm. I don't know how successful I am. I definitely agree about reading out my work to myself to pick up glitches - works for me. I also write poetry for performance, but I prefer to hear others perform it in the way they see fit, I find that exciting as they often pick up on things I'd not been conscious of.

Reply
Annecdotist
30/6/2017 05:50:16 pm

Thanks for sharing your experience, Kate. That’s a good point about the excitement of the nuances others find in our writing. Definitely a real buzz from that.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
2/7/2017 12:49:00 pm

Thanks for the mention, and hook, Anne. :) Yes, I love my audiobooks. They help me read more. I have always said I prefer the author to read their own work as I believe they read it how they want it read. Some authors have done a fabulous job e.g. Stephen Fry, Christopher Hitchin, Michael Rosen, Mem Fox (picture books). I have been disappointed with a few non-author narrators, and often corrected (in my head) their phrasing or intonation to what I thought more appropriate. I listened to a book written by Ken Robinson (whose TED talks I love!) but narrated by someone else. I found myself "translating" it into Ken-speak as I listened. I think he missed a lot of Ken's humour and subtleties. However, I have just finished listening to "The Great Penguin Rescue" by the Penguin Lady Dyan DeNapoli. Although read by another, the narrator was fantastic and I could not fault her. I was constantly amazed at how well I thought she read it. It would be interesting to know what Dyan thinks. I have just started listening to "The Knowledge Illusion" by Sloman and Fernbach but read by another. Once again, he seems to be doing a great job as if he understands and means every word of the complex topic. I wonder how much rehearsal the proficient readers do compared to the less-proficient. I think it's fair for me to say, that I do hear a reader in my head - sometimes it's a good match to what I'm listening to, other times I find myself correcting. I think I do hear voices as I read (with my eyes rather than ears). I visualise the people talking and what they are doing. I think I hear them speak in their own voices with expression. I think the visual and the audio is all tied up in one. That doesn't mean I hear your voice when I read your posts. Now I'm confusing me. Am I confusing you? It's great to have such a thoughtful post to think about. :)

Reply
Annecdotist
3/7/2017 03:00:51 pm

Thanks for extending the scope of this post through your comments, Norah. Your confusion at the end just goes to show what a complex and intriguing topic this is.
I was amused that you correct the audio voice when you listen – perhaps similar to how I correct grammar and punctuation (and mentally strikeout redundant words) when I read print. Is that another topic for this series? Your thoughtful comments seem to spark so many!

Reply
Norah Colvin link
4/7/2017 11:09:47 am

Sounds like you have another few posts up your sleeve! :)

Annecdotist
4/7/2017 06:50:52 pm

I’m trying to do one at the end of every month on reading, but there’s a lot of overlap between them.


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