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D.T. Powell:
We’ve talked about what contributes to a person’s writing voice, but, especially in fiction, that isn’t the only voice we have to account for. Character voice is equally important. Balancing author voice and character voice is crucial to reader understanding, and sometimes meshing those two voices seems impossible.
With over a decade of experience in the world of fanfiction, I’ve gotten to spend time with stories that made the distinction between character voice and author voice a lot easier for me to understand, because I already considered the people I was working with to be separate entities from me, so I didn’t have to create that distance. It was already there.
I still recall the exact chapter I was writing when the basics of how to differentiate myself from the person I was writing clicked. That was the moment I started communicating the story through someone else’s point-of-view instead of unintentionally using my own. I naturally shifted from an omniscient third-person POV to limited third. That was 3 years after I started writing.
Over the next 2 years, I figured out more of the logistics behind executing an in-depth POV. That moment of clarity came while I was writing a short story for a fanfic competition. I didn’t place, but I got something far more valuable. Understanding.
Earlier this year, I re-read that short story, and I learned something about the character whose POV I wrote from—something I was too close to see 7 years ago. His voice was wry, and I had no idea he was so ironically hilarious. I laughed out loud throughout that whole story because his voice shone through the narrative so clearly that my writer voice—though still present—was able to take a backseat to him and highlight his dry humor.
When we, as writers, stop focusing on making sure people see us and instead focus on spotlighting our characters and story, magic happens. We get out of our own heads and stop overthinking. Our writer voice comes out, often without our notice, and becomes a vehicle for our characters’ individual voices.
What are some characters whose voices you love? Are their voices significantly different from that of the person who penned their stories?
The idea for this post series arrived after Elizabeth let me read the first two chapters of her historical project, which explores a fictional origin story for the Grim Reaper (I’m looking forward to reading more of it, by the way).
Something I noticed as I was reading that first chapter was how her main character, Alwyn, focuses on events and others’ responses to him in a sharply emotional way, as if these experiences are new and very immediately impactful for him.
I also got to read one of Alwyn’s childhood memories. The emotional punch of that moment was clearly raw and strong. Crisp, vivid details evoked a sense of closeness to the memory, as if it happened very recently.
So, I went into reading chapter two assuming Alwyn was somewhere in the 15-18 age range. Only to discover he’s 57. Forty years older than I’d thought.
With such a discrepancy between reader impression and author intent, Elizabeth and I started going back and forth on possible reasons for the disconnect.
Because of the age gap between Elizabeth and I, there are elements of life we experience (and therefore portray) differently. Which is great. People shouldn’t all experience life in the same way. That would be boring. But it can lead to challenges in character portrayals, specifically characters who are significantly older or younger than us. We fall into the trap of imposing our personal writing voice onto a character— substituting our voice for theirs. And the hardest part is, we often don’t know we’re doing it.
Have you ever read a story that depicted a character as younger or older than how the author described them? What led to your perception of the character’s age?
ELIZABETH:
Your character's voice should be so unique that you can switch between POV characters 1) without dropping names and 2) without confusing your readers. Now, I know this seems like an impossible thing to do, especially if you're new to writing. But it truly isn't. It all comes down to actively developing and getting to know your character. We could dive so deep into this topic, but today we're just going to look at some of the defining aspects of your character's voice.
Phrasing:
Phrasing is the word choice your character might use, and there are so many factors that can determine phrasing, but we're only going to look at a few.
The first one is, you guessed it, age!
I'm currently ghostwriting for a client who is from a different generation than me. Several times, I will word something a certain way that makes sense to me and readers closer to my age/generation that she doesn't necessarily understand.
You can think of each generation as having their own "language" or "dialect." A word that means one thing to you may not mean the same thing as someone born 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago. Trends and styles change.
Think about the "trends" your character is dealing with. How is that going to influence their way of speaking or thinking? Are there some phrases that older characters may use that seem archaic to your MC? Or phrases that younger characters may use that make your character wonder about the meaning? Think about words such as contractions and interjections. How are they used by your character? How are they used by other characters?
Region and culture also affects phrasing. I was born and raised in West Texas, where there is a lot of southern and Hispanic influence. Down there, any dark fizzy drink is referred to as a, "Coke," (as in Coca-Cola). If someone asks if you want a coke, you'll have to specify (after the yes or no) which kind you want: Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, Mr. Pibb, etc.)
However, my dad was born and raised in Missouri, the Midwest. Up there, the word, "Coke" was synonymous with just the "Coca-Cola" brand, while "soda" was the general term for any soft drink. After my dad moved down to Texas, he would learn very quickly that Texans speak a seemingly different language than what he was used to!
If you have different regions or key locations in your story, an interaction like this between characters can really highlight the different voices they have. If your character has an accent, how does that differ from those around them? Do they know they have an accent? What words/specific phrases do they use because of their region or culture?
Delivery:
The delivery of a phrase or thought is a HUGE tool with voice. The way something is said, the attitude with which a character thinks... it can affect voice and even contain hidden meanings.
Here's something that can really help you understand just how vital the delivery, word choice, and enunciation really are. The following sentences are all the same... but the emphasis is added to only one word at a time.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Well, I didn't say I was mad at you.
Do you see how phrasing can change the meaning or mood of a statement? A highly cynical character can say the word, "Yeah," and it will mean something entirely different than a child saying, "Yeah!" for getting ice cream, or a teenager saying, "Yeah..." while in the principal's office.
This can apply to so many different aspects of voice and character development! Characters can be elusive and mysterious, and hide a deeper meaning in everything they say. Or, they can be straight forward and just get to the point, leaving no room for confusion.
That is the power of phrasing. That is the power of voice. It is such an incredible tool and, once you learn to use it, you're going to have iconic and unique characters!
Sentence Structure:
Sentence structure is referring to either simple or compound sentences. A simple sentence is one that has a single clause. It isn't joined by and or but. A compound sentence typically has two or more clauses, and are usually joined by and, or but. Yes... voice can even be affected by the arrangement of words! A lot can determine whether or not your character favors simple or compound sentences.
Ask yourself: how does age affect my character's voice? A young child may have simple sentences like, "I want food," while a slightly older child may have a long string of run-on sentences with an overuse of, "And, then...." A teenager may revert back to that short, quipped sentence structure if they're broody, but they may use compound or run-on sentences if they're bright and bubbly. Same for older characters. Things like education, maturity level, and age are going to influence how simple or complex of a sentence your character puts together (this goes for thoughts and internal monologue as well.)
Focal Point: Yep, even what your character focuses on can influence their voice! Voice is just the perception (input) and reaction (output) your character has toward their world. If your character is a florist, they are going to notice and think more about the plants they see in their environment. Instead of seeing a pretty white flower, they notice a daisy growing outside of season. Maybe it intrigues them. If they were to talk to someone about that flower, they might mention facts about them--maybe not even realizing it!
A soldier walking in the same area may even notice the flower because they're focused on the people, scanning the crowd for threats. The guy tucked into the shadow of a building may catch the soldier's attention. Instead of just continuing on and ignoring that guy, maybe the soldier commits his facial profile to memory. Maybe something just seems off, and it sends the soldier into a precautionary fight or flight mode.
At the same time, a counselor walking in the same area may notice the soldier's emotional state. Instead of seeing the physical features, the counselor wonders about the mood, emotions, and thoughts that soldier is having and recognizing signs of PTSD.
What your character notices/misses, finds intriguing or significant, assumes or dismisses can all be a factor of their voice. You can use these little details to differentiate between characters because, as we've said many times and even in this post, everyone's life experiences are different. How one character views and communicates their world is going to look different from the way another one does.
Here's an exercise: Just write some dialogue between two characters you know should have different voices. Maybe they have different roles, different personalities, are from different regions, etc. You can have an older character giving a younger character advice. Write a whole conversation, but don't use either of their names. (You can use thoughts and actions, as these do influence voice!) When you're done, re-read it. Do you get confused on who is speaking? Do they sound like the same person? What about their phrasing and delivery is the same and how should it be different?
The more you write, the stronger your voice will become. The more you write from your character's perspective, the stronger their voice will become until you have something that accurately represents who they are.
I hope this has helped you learn a little more about developing a unique voice for your character! Keep an eye out for part 3 of this series, where D.T. Powell and I will talk about the different ways you can depict age in writing!
About The Authors
D. T. Powell has loved stories since before she can remember, and it was love for a story God used to change her life that prompted her to start writing. She has actively contributed to the fanfiction community since 2013 in addition to writing original speculative fiction for both inspirational and general markets. She spends her days supervising three furry felines, all named for Studio Ghibli characters, playing pickleball, reading, and enjoying her favorite video games. Her life verse is Psalm 126:5, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
Instagram @dtill359
Facebook @D. T. Powell, Author
Goodreads @D.T. Powell
Elizabeth Mae Wolfram is a twenty-something-year-old living in the breathtaking mountains of the Ozarks. She is an author, blogger, podcaster, web designer, & book formatter -- all powered by the publishing company she and her mom founded in 2022, called DHK Creations & Publications, LLC. When she isn’t writing, she can be found drinking coffee with her parents, hanging out with her little siblings, or chasing around her fiery kittens, Phoenix, Ember, and Bella.
Instagram: @elizabethmaewolfram_author
Facebook: E.M. Wolfram
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