October 9th: Voice with Michelle Stimpson

Voice

Voice is what keeps readers coming back to your work page after page, story after story, book after book.  Though every work has its flaws at some level, voice forgives a multitude of sins and engages your reader from beginning to the end.  The beautiful thing about voice is that it's unique and natural – it’s YOU!

Let’s face it: next to a great idea, voice is what appeals most to editors and readers. Absent this essential human trait, a computer could have been programmed to spit out your novel. So how do you include your own voice without overwhelming the reader? And how can you bring “you” into a third-person narrative so that readers will fall in love with the way you tell a story? In this session, we’ll take a stab at those questions by analyzing bestselling authors’ works to discover their unique voices and practice techniques to kick up the voice in your own novels.

Bio:

Michelle Stimpson is an author, a speaker, and an educator who received her Bachelor of Science degree from Jarvis Christian College in 1994.  She earned a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2002.  She has had the pleasure of teaching elementary, middle, and high school as well as training adults. 

In addition to her work in the field of education, Michelle ministers through writing and public speaking.  Her works include Boaz Brown, Breaking Bondage to Biscuits, Divas of Damascus Road (National Bestseller), The Good Stuff, Trouble In My Way, and the upcoming release, Last Temptation.  She has written and published over 40 short stories through her educational publishing company at www.WeGottaRead.com. She also ministers to women through her blog.

Michelle lives near Dallas with her husband and their two teenage children. She is active in the Creative Tyme Ministry at her home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Visit Michelle online at www.michellestimpson.com.