The Power of Inspiration in Creating Characters
Vision, Voice and the Power of Creation: An Author Speaks Out
Right now, I am spending a lot of time listening to the voice of a particularly compelling character: the young Merlin. In the end, I finally heard the voice of Merlin thanks to a surprising source: the haunting, mysterious hooting of a great horned owl outside the window of my Colorado home. As I listened to that owl's resonant [echoing] call in the pre-dawn hours one morning, something about it gave me a whole new cadence [rhythm], a whole new sound. And then, a whole new voice.
In this paragraph, what is the author's explicit message about his inspiration for Merlin's voice?
(10 points)
- a) He had difficulty finding Merlin's voice.
- b) His inspiration was the owl outside his window.
- c) His old ideas were not working for Merlin's voice.
- d) He spent a lot of time thinking about Merlin's voice.
What is the author's explicit message about his inspiration for Merlin's voice?
Answer:
b) His inspiration was the owl outside his window.
Explanation:
It was a struggle to find the perfect voice for "An Author Speaks Out," but the inspiration came from the sound of an owl outside his window.