This is more of an allegorical story than I usually write, which was an interesting experience. Despite the title, I definitely didn't want to proselytize about how to "find your voice" as a story teller—rather, I just wanted to explore the concept of "voice" as a creature or living thing, rather than the abstract concept we tend to discuss—but in a weird way, the story ended up sort of taking a stance against... taking a stance? For instance, the end of the story seems to be professing that there's no "one way" to write... but isn't that argument essentially as didactic as the opposite stance? It seems that in attempting to write a story which discourages drawing blanket conclusions for aspiring writers, I inadvertently stuck a "moral" at the end.
But here I am playing devil's advocate against my own work! Sometimes you just have to let the story take you where it wants to take you, I suppose. Rereading this piece, I'm really proud of the language toward the end, when the voice shifts toward a more whimsical and playful tone, even rhyming at times (or at least coming close!). One last note: I received various critiques from early readers and editors about how I might restructure this story, and I'm happy to say—in keeping with the theme of the story—I didn't change much at all. Rather, I just let the story be what it was—because I liked it. At the end of the day, that's all that matters, isn't it?
Interesting! Thanks, Jake! Be sure to check out "Find You Voice" and the rest of the stories as of August 31!
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