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Meet the Teaching Artist: A Guide to Discovering and Sharpening Your Voice with Camryn Garrett
by Writing Workshops Staff
A day ago
Imagine walking into a room where every sentence sparkles with personality, where each story unfolds with a unique cadence that could only come from its author. That’s the magic of voice—the intangible yet unmistakable fingerprint of a writer’s soul. And if finding your own voice feels elusive, you’re in for a transformative experience.
Camryn Garrett, an NAACP Image Award-nominated author and filmmaker, is no stranger to crafting stories that resonate. With accolades from Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, and Publisher’s Weekly, and her work translated into nine languages, Garrett has become a master at weaving narratives that are as distinct as they are unforgettable. Now, she’s sharing her secrets in a seminar designed to unlock the power of your unique writing voice.
In this one-of-a-kind workshop, Garrett will demystify what it means to have a "voicey" style, showing writers how to distinguish their work in a crowded marketplace while creating stories that linger in readers’ minds. Through thought-provoking discussions, dynamic brainstorming exercises, and an exploration of excerpts from celebrated works, participants will uncover how elements like structure and personal experience can shape their literary identity.
This isn’t just a class; it’s a gateway to finding the foundation of your brand as an author. Whether you’re penning your first novel, exploring memoir, or refining your next big idea, Garrett will guide you to identify and hone the voice that makes your writing uniquely yours.
Hi Camryn, please introduce yourself to our audience.
My name is Camryn! I'm a kidlit author with four books: Full Disclosure, Off the Record, Friday I'm in Love, and my middle grade debut, The Forgotten Summer of Seneca, which comes out this April! I'm also a filmmaker and have written and directed several short films.
What made you want to teach this specific class? Is it something you are focusing on in your own writing practice? Have you noticed a need to focus on this element of craft?
When I first started writing seriously for publication, I noticed a lot of publishing professionals like agents and editors mentioning voice, and I didn't immediately understand what they meant. It took a bit for me to understand that every author has their own specific voice and that this is a valuable tool. I think it helps me on a craft level when I think about idea formation, but it also helps on a marketing level if I try my best to play into my authorial voice.
Give us a breakdown of how the course is going to go. What can the students expect? What is your favorite part about this class you've dreamed up?
It's going to be very chill! I'm planning to look at certain pieces of writing from the authors of Less, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and How to Write an Autobiographical Novel. I've organized the seminar around four different talking points/activities: a discussion of voice, brainstorming/idea generation, story structure, and pulling from our own lives. I think these are all elements that play into my own voice as an author, so I'm really excited to see how these impact other writers as well.
What was your first literary crush?
Probably Percy Jackson.
What are you currently reading?
I'm reading an advanced copy of Laurie Halse Anderson's Rebellion 1776 and I really love it. I was a big fan of her other historical fiction, and I love being sucked back into this writing style.
How do you choose what you're working on? When do you know it is the next thing you want to write all the way to THE END?
It's hard! The short, boring answer is that I go by business decisions. I look at what I think I can sell or what contracts have options. Right now, I have an idea I really want to write, but I'm trying to wait until I've finished at least one deadline. I usually know I'm going to stick with something if I can't stop thinking about it. My favorite feeling is when characters appear almost fully formed.
Where do you find inspiration?
I read a lot! Even when I haven't read books in a while, I'm always reading articles and essays. I love to subscribe to magazines and newspapers. Reading about other people and things I've never thought deeply about really help get the wheels in my brain turning.
What is the best piece of writing wisdom you've received that you can pass along to our readers? How did it impact your work? Why has this advice stuck with you?
I remember once saying that I wanted to write a romance but that everything had been done already, so I didn't see a point. The author Bolu Babalola told me the concept doesn't have to be one of a kind, but that the relationship itself has to feel special, and that's all. I've applied that to a lot of my writing. I think there can be great emphasis on having a really unique idea or something that feels like it's never been done before, but we're all recycling the same stories. What matters is how you can bring yourself to a story and make it feel special to you.
What is your favorite book to recommend on the craft of writing? Why this book?
1000 Words by Jami Attenberg. I've always loved her 1000 words challenge and I feel like this book really breaks down the act of writing a first draft into manageable pieces.
Bonus question: What’s your teaching vibe?
I think I'm pretty chill! I like things to be discussion based and for a workshop to feel like we're discovering things together.
You can sign up for Camryn Garrett’s upcoming class A Guide to Discovering and Sharpening Your Voice, and avoid the waitlist.
Camryn Garrett is an NAACP Image Award-nominated author and filmmaker. Her first novel, Full Disclosure, received rave reviews from outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, the Today Show, and The Guardian, which called it “warm, funny and thoughtfully sex-positive, an impressive debut from a writer still in her teens.” Her second novel, Off the Record, received three starred reviews. Her third novel, Friday I’m in Love, was an IndieNext Pick and received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly. Her debut middle-grade novel, The Forgotten Summer of Seneca, will be published by Abrams in 2025. Her work has been translated into 9 languages.
