Sonya Huber and the Power of Voice

“Ultimately, writing about difficulty as well as joy is a way to connect to others and instill empathy, and that is always needed,” says author Sonya Huber. With her own collection of writing, Sonya Huber embodies authenticity and an active passion for voice through her words. In her writing guide, Voice First: A Writer’s Manifesto, Huber explores the fundamental, but often vague, concept of voice. Her writing recasts the term in the plural to give writers a way to understand the development of voice over time. “We have valuable intuitions and gut feelings, and using voices to get in the habit of listening to them to process emotions is one of the best things we can do for ourselves,” she says. 

Huber states that in today’s world, “the unique sound of a writer’s voice is underappreciated.” The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has grown exponentially, and the temptation of its use will have effects beyond writing. “Using AI takes one’s agency and choice–each writing task that is filled with AI is a missed opportunity to hear one’s self, and to be surprised by what emerges on the page,” she adds. Huber emphasizes the importance of embodiment and having a connection to human experience: “We are shaped by our life experience, and even when those experiences have been hard, we grow and change from them, and that adaptation and the insights that emerge are so valuable.”

Now teaching at Fairfield University and in Fairfield’s Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in Connecticut, Sonya educates in a way which acknowledges each individual’s life experience while encouraging the practice of writing with various voices. She states the importance for students, “to hear themselves and understand that they have important and unique things to say.” When an individual can allow themselves to explore and develop a range of voices within writing, the chances of them consciously choosing to listen and utilize authenticity of voice will go far beyond the page. After all, she says, “Voice is central to a relationship with ourselves,” and Sonya continuously makes this evident through her personal and professional development. 

Beyond her book, Voice First: A Writer’s Manifesto, Sonya Huber's books include the forthcoming anthology, Nothing Compares To You: What Sinead Means to Us, and the essay collection, Love and Industry: A Midwestern Workbook. She is also the author of theaward-winning essay collection on chronic pain, Pain Woman Takes Your Keys and Other Essays from a Nervous System, as well as Supremely Tiny Acts: A Memoir in a Day, Opa Nobody, Cover Me: A Health Insurance Memoir, and The Backwards Research Guide for Writers. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and other outlets. 

Before her work in academia, she worked in the nonprofit sector, journalism, and social work. Her notable background, experience, and steadfast love for writing has built a foundational sense of voice and opportunity for her. She reiterates that writing helps her, “Reflect, explore, ask questions, and not know.” Furthermore, allowing her to use her words to encourage others to hear one’s self–truthful and honest. On April 2, Sonya Huber will be joining us on-campus in Marian Auditorium to further discuss the power of voice. Later that evening, at 7pm, individuals will have the opportunity to further learn from and workshop with Sonya in SLC 104.

Until then, if you're feeling ambitious, take a look at a few of her prompts from Voice First: A Writer’s Manifesto, and get curious about exploring and developing voices of your own. 

1. "Choose an internal organ in your body, and write what advice it has for you." 
2. "How does your laugh sound to you? Does your laugh connect to a voice? Try to write in that voice."
3. "Try to write from the voice of talking with a best friend from grade school.”

For more information about Sonya Huber, check out her website and substack.

About Kendra Horsley

Kendra Horsley is a senior at Mount Marty University. She is triple majoring in psychology, human services, and English writing. Kendra is also a member of the Mount Marty volleyball team.