Voice: The Make or Break Element with Natasha Lester

Learn to grab your reader’s attention with the standout element every novel needs: voice.

You've all heard writers talking about "finding their voice", but what does that really mean? And why does voice matter so much in a novel anyway?

Voice is the one thing makes your novel unique. A publisher can help you with plot and character in an edit, but if a manuscript is voiceless, they will never take it on. In this workshop, you'll learn what "voice" is and why it's the one thing that can make or break a novel for publishers, agents and readers. You'll walk away with strategies to help you develop a distinctive voice for your manuscript and stand out in the crowded publishing market.

Learning outcomes

As part of this workshop, you will:

• Understand what voice is.

• Learn about the ten elements of fiction that help shape voice in a manuscript.

• Discover strategies that can help you develop the voice of your manuscript if it's missing, inconsistent or derivative.

• Experiment and play with writing exercises to uncover different writing voices you have naturally within you.

• Understand the link between voice and high quality prose.

• Apply these learnings to your own manuscript or writing.

Format

This is an online workshop with a focus on craft; it will be hosted via Zoom. This workshop is suitable for fiction writers of all levels and writing backgrounds.

About Natasha

In the early 2000s, Natasha Lester made the move from marketing manager for Maybelline cosmetics to writing novels and she regrets nothing—except that she no longer gets free lipstick. She is now a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author whose books have been published all around the world. Her latest novel is The Chateau on Sunset.

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program of Events and answers to FAQs, please visit: www.queenslandwriters.org.au/program-info