Voice consistency in memory stories

[jacuzzigal]

Hello fellow editors,

In editing stories recalling or retelling a time when the narrator was younger, I often find writers fall into the trap of voice inconsistency. Sometimes it's as though there are two narrators: one is the younger narrator and the other is the narrator now: older, more experienced, etc. The voices can conflict and can be distracting.

My question for you is, aside from word choice, what kinds of suggestions would you offer to a writer to untangle the two voices? I'm interested in your feedback. Thanks!

 

[Weird Harold]

Hello fellow editors,

In editing stories recalling or retelling a time when the narrator was younger, I often find writers fall into the trap of voice inconsistency. Sometimes it's as though there are two narrators: one is the younger narrator and the other is the narrator now: older, more experienced, etc. The voices can conflict and can be distracting.

My question for you is, aside from word choice, what kinds of suggestions would you offer to a writer to untangle the two voices? I'm interested in your feedback. Thanks!

The first thing I would try to do is determine if it a deliberate "flashback" where the voice change would be appropriate or an adult memory where it wouldn't be appropriate.

Second, I'd offer whatever suggestions are required to make it clearly a flashback or clearly adult memory and adjust the voice accordingly as required.

 

[bridgeburner]

Sounds like it might also be a problem with not fully understanding verb tenses --- or forgetting the proper tense when immersed in the retelling.

I sent a link to LadyC's sticky thread on Editorial Links that might help.


-B

 

[jacuzzigal]

thanks all.

 

[Rad'l]

Editing problems, voice inconsistancy

The problem of voice inconsistancy is one of the problems that I was trying to express when I started the thread: General Comments. Some of the voice (past or present) mistakes might be cured by a more careful proofreading. Could it be that we readers are so caught up in the story that we miss or skip over gramatical mistakes?

Careful proofreading requires a detached attitude - hard to do considering the nature of the stories that are presented on Literotica! I applaud all the writers and editors - just urge them to be more careful and dilligent.

 

[Weird Harold]

Careful proofreading requires a detached attitude - hard to do considering the nature of the stories that are presented on Literotica! I applaud all the writers and editors - just urge them to be more careful and dilligent.

There is a thread in the Author's Hangout about "Self Editing" started by neolyte with some good tips for obtaining the detchment necessary for prooreading and editing your own work -- some of the suggestions work well for editing other people's work as well.