Voice and Persona with Ellena Savage

Learn techniques to help you create or rediscover your unique writing voice

Create or rediscover your unique writing voice in this course with Ellena Savage, author of Blueberries.

‘Voice’ is one of those qualities of literature that is difficult to define but undeniable when present. We know it when we see it. In short, the writer’s voice is the writer’s style, the thumbprint they imprint on their work, whether they’re writing through character, scene, image, or argument. In this course you'll be guided through a number of ideas, exercises, and provocations in order to identify and nurture elements of your writing style that are unique to you, to write with courage, and to disentangle the constructed, writerly persona from the lived self.

You'll learn:

  • to connect ‘literary’ language to the language of everyday speech and communication
  • to understand your writing from within the context of your body, both organically and socially
  • to use randomness and constraint to move past writers’ block and perfectionism
  • to make deliberate and precise stylistic choices in your writing

Scroll down to see the full course curriculum and a list of frequently asked questions.

"Really help me find and free a voice and persona in fiction writing. The course was both subtle and effective."

"Expertly crafted workshop, on a user-friendly platform, with a top class writer. The perfect combination of industry knowledge sharing; examples from a range of texts; and practical exercises to immerse you in the process of writing raw truth. Loved it!"


KYD Members receive a 10% discount on this course and all other KYD online courses throughout the year. Become a member here, or contact courses@killyourdarlings.com.au for more information.

Want to buy a course for a friend? Purchase a gift voucher here.


Your Instructor


​Ellena Savage
​Ellena Savage

Ellena Savage is the author of the essay collection Blueberries which was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award and longlisted for the Stella Prize, and the chapbook Yellow City. She has published more than one hundred and eighty short works—essays, poems and stories—and is a recent Marten Bequest scholar. Ellena has a PhD in Creative writing, and has taught writing since 2015.


Course Curriculum


  Introduction
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  Part One: Body
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  Part Two: Psyche and Persona
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish. We encourage you to approach this material not just as lessons to be finished once and for all, but also as a collection of resources to which you can return time and again.
How long do I have access to the course?
Forever! After enrolling, you have unlimited lifetime access to this course - across any and all devices you own.
Does the teacher provide feedback?
No. If you are interested in receiving feedback on your project, we encourage you to check out KYD's Manuscript Assessment Service: https://killyourdarlings.com.au/shop/manuscript-assessments/
How do I access my course?
All our online workshops are hosted at workshops.killyourdarlings.com.au, via the Teachable platform. You can access your workshop by logging in at that link, or by following the link in your welcome email when you enrol. Please note that as the Teachable platform is a separate website to KYD you will need to create a new account, and will not be able to use your KYD login details.
I'm a KYD member. How do I receive my 10% discount?
Click on 'Enrol in course for $169'. Enter the coupon code that was emailed to you when you became a KYD member at checkout, underneath the tutor's photo.
What if I have another question?
You can email us at courses@killyourdarlings.com.au and we'll be happy to help!

Get started now!