Thursday, April 20, 2006

Defining 'voice'

As part of my pitch for this upcoming conference, I have to be able to define my writing - dark, intensely emotional, witty, whatever. Right now, I'm calling mine dry, witty. Here is an example of my 'voice' from a freewriting exercise (topic: bad hair day) that I did in a workshop. Any ideas othr than dry, witty? It's difficult to describe your own voice - that's why I'm asking for help.

Bad Hair Day


"Did you get a perm?"

Any time the humidity level is over 80%, someone asks me that question and they always give me a 'you're lying' look when I tell them no.

Having naturally curly hair can be wonderful when it's cut right and falls on my shoulders in perfect waves. Unfortunately, I have little control over when those days occur.

On days when I'm giving a presentation or having a picture taken, I make an effort with Bed Head Control Freak Anti-Frizz Serum, masochistically wrapping two-inch sections of hair around a circular brush, then blasting the curls into submission with a high-wattage hair dryer. For the first hour it looks ok, maybe not pin-straight, but presentable.

The minute I step outside and away from my curl control center, my hair knows it and the curls take over. If disaster strikes and I get caught in the rain without an umbrella, I know I'm doomed - the perm question or worse, "What happened to your hair?" will follow me the rest of the day.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

subtle humour

Dodi said...

Cheerfully droll with nimble patois.

Karen said...

Subtle humor = if you really dig for it, you might find it

Cheerfully droll makes me think of Santa Claus.

I love nimble patois - I need to practice saying it.

Anonymous said...

Less subtle...

"Did you get a perm?" Is she kidding me. Look at those streaks. Can you say, "skunk?"

Any time the humidity level is over 80%, someone asks me that question and they always give me a 'you're lying' look when I tell them no.

Having pubic hair for head hair can be wonderful when it's ironed like a pressed shirt from a chinese laundry. Unfortunately, I am not independtly wealthy, nor unemployed.

On days when I'm giving a presentation or having a picture taken, I make an effort with Bed Head Control Freak Anti-Frizz Serum, masochistically wrapping two-inch sections of hair around a circular brush, then blasting the curls into submission with a high-wattage hair dryer. I go through 4 to 6 hair dryers a year. For the first hour it looks like head hair, or maybe pit hair, but it is presentable.

The minute I step outside and away from my pube control center, my hair knows it and its instant crotch head. If disaster strikes and I get caught in the rain without an umbrella, I know I'm doomed - the perm question or worse, "How was eletro shock treatment?" will follow me the rest of the day.

Karen said...

you're really nimble with the patois

Anonymous said...

just being my crude self. what is the male equivalent of chick lit? i will call it dick lit. does that exist?

Dodi said...

It's called Penthouse:

"Dear Penthouse, I never thought something like this would happen to me..."

Karen said...

I think it's more like Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity, etc.)

Feel free to start a new genre
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