Cleaning-obsessed mother is definitely a cliche. But that's not what I meant by narrative voice. By narrative voice, I mean "the artful way" the story is told, the how. How are you telling the story?
The checklist, of things you may look for in narrative voice, is as follows (from Margaret Lucke's "Writing Great Short Stories."):
1. Choice of Words.
2. Structure and arrangement of sentences and paragraphs.
3. Rhythm of the language.
4. Degree of formality in the language.
5. Linear versus layered narrative structure.
6. Balance among action, dialogue, description, and exposition.
7. Use of details.
8. Level of suspense.
9. Pace of the story.
10. Amount and kind of humor.
11. Amount of emotional color.
12. Regional or cultural flavor.
13. Use of imagery, metaphor, and simile.
14. Use of symbols.
15. Kinds of allusions and references in the story.
16. The worldview implicit in the story.
17. THe consistency with which the voice is maintained.
But most of all, if you're hating your work, or need some advice on the direction of your work, or the narrative voice, why aren't you consulting your supervisor and/or mentor(s)?
The checklist, of things you may look for in narrative voice, is as follows (from Margaret Lucke's "Writing Great Short Stories."):
1. Choice of Words.
2. Structure and arrangement of sentences and paragraphs.
3. Rhythm of the language.
4. Degree of formality in the language.
5. Linear versus layered narrative structure.
6. Balance among action, dialogue, description, and exposition.
7. Use of details.
8. Level of suspense.
9. Pace of the story.
10. Amount and kind of humor.
11. Amount of emotional color.
12. Regional or cultural flavor.
13. Use of imagery, metaphor, and simile.
14. Use of symbols.
15. Kinds of allusions and references in the story.
16. The worldview implicit in the story.
17. THe consistency with which the voice is maintained.
But most of all, if you're hating your work, or need some advice on the direction of your work, or the narrative voice, why aren't you consulting your supervisor and/or mentor(s)?