Voice and Character Development

I recently read a blog by Colin Murcray on that elusive thing called "voice" which every writer tackles to make his or her story a page turner. You can have a dynamite plot, but if your character's (and secondary characters) voice(s) don't ring true, your reader won't make it past the first chapter, or page. As Colin said, it's much easier to write a story in which the character is someone you know, or is like someone you know. When you have to create a character from scratch, it takes numerous hours and exercises to bring them into focus. Currently, I'm reworking (following several other reworkings) a young adult novel in which the main character is part British and part Native American. This novel, AWAKENING AT SPIRIT LAKE, has won three awards, best YA at the 2003 DreamMaker Workshop in Elizabeth, Colorado, first place in the 2005 Pikes Peak Writer Paul Gillette contest (YA Category), and a finalist award in the 2007 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold contest (General Fiction Category), yet I know I still need to strengthen a couple of the characters. I'm currently reading a wonderful book called SEARCHING FOR CHIPETA about Ute Chief Ouray's second wife, written by Vickie Krudwig. It's a beautifully written account of the Utes' struggle in the nineteenth century as the white men moved westward and the government forced many Ute bands off of Colorado lands and onto reservations. I find it helpful to learn about their lives, struggles and traditions, and Vickie has done a wonderful job of getting inside Chipeta's head to tell the story. I also plan to visit the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Colorado soon. Although it's extremely hard to get inside the head of someone so unlike yourself, I believe it can be done. Afterall, a man got inside the head of a Geisha woman and wrote an incredible book. But it takes longer, more research, and persistence. In the end, I believe it makes writers more open to other cultures and beliefs, perhaps more tolerant. I believe I'm getting closer to the hearts of my characters, and plan to pursue this story, hoping the journey will result in a published book, but certain it will result in a wiser writer.