The Writing Voice Simplified
Everyone can develop a writer’s voice that will keep the readers flipping pages. I’ll simplify the process for success. There are myths about voice. New writers think they have to find it in their own words. That’s partially correct, but only because the author creates the characters.
The author's voice comes from the point-of-view character. It’s the character’s unique expression and reactions you are after.
There is a secret to developing the voice. It requires knowing the point-of-view character well. Combine the character’s background and his/her way of speaking with the author’s emotions conjured from the author’s experiences and show it on the page. Let’s demonstrate how it works.
1. Choose a character and narrow their description to what dominant impression he/ she will give the reader. Pick an adjective and a vocation to show how other people perceive him. I’ll give an example: cranky waiter
2. Pick his physical features: Short, stubby body type, thinning hair, flatter nose, frown on face, tattoo of a bulldog on his forearm.
3. What is the character’s background? Where did he grow up? Describe his family life. Describe his economic situation. What is his highest level of education? What pop culture items did he identify with as a younger person? Examples: movies, music, sports teams, etc.
Let’s pretend our cranky waiter grew up in the inner city. He never met his father. His mother adored him, but she died when he turned eighteen. He grew up in poverty and lives paycheck to paycheck. He likes Katy Perry, chili dogs, and wrestling matches.
4. Give the character a past life-altering event that affects him today.
Our waiter has a criminal record for theft and is often rejected at high paying jobs.
5. What does the character desire? What are his goals and dreams?
The waiter wants less stress at work.
Can you see the character? I can. If I couldn’t, I’d search Google for images until I found him. Sometimes I save the photo if I’m using the character in a novel.
Now make a character’s voice journal. Writing it down will serve as a tool to help create the character's personality. How do you think he talks and expresses himself? Base his words on his core values. What is his attitude about life? What makes him mad, crazy or happy? What is important to him? Use any demeanor you like. I’ll make a quick voice journal using our cranky waiter.
Here it goes:
“When it’s noon at the ole slop house, you can bet thirty tables will fill up within fifteen minutes. We’re down two servers, and I’ve been bustin’ my hump. Me waitin’ ten tables an hour. It’s always the same breakfast skippin’ crowd. They’re starvin’ like stray dogs. Double cheeseburgers with double onion rings, and double fries. I’m runnin’ in fifteen directions. Gimme ketchup. Gimme another Pepsi. Gimme more napkins. Gimme water. Gimme, gimme, gimme. They got me trippin’ over my feet and spillin’ the drinks. Last week I dropped a glass of ice water in a lady’s lap. Cost me my tip.”
The cranky man could talk forever if I let him, but I think you get the idea. He sees the world his own way, and the writer must give him a personality on paper for him to have a voice.
Now imagine the server is Mindy, a teenage girl working at Chucky Cheese. She is a cheerful server who loves pepperoni pizza and little kids. She’s working a summer job to buy a scooter. What might she say about working if she has a bubbly personality and I give her a voice?
For voices to come out of a character, the author must identify with the character’s feelings so closely, they merge. You must draw on personal experiences that made you feel the same way as the character. Express it in words, and the reader will feel the same emotion.
If you write a story about a divorced homemaker going on a job interview, you must identify with her emotions when you write her story. If the character feels nervous and insecure, write from your own heart. Remember a time when you were nervous and insecure. Pretend you’re the homemaker when writing the story. The writer becomes the character temporarily to garner empathy for the character.
Try the above techniques when writing your next story. For further reading find a copy of Voice by James Scott Bell.
There is a secret to developing the voice. It requires knowing the point-of-view character well. Combine the character’s background and his/her way of speaking with the author’s emotions conjured from the author’s experiences and show it on the page. Let’s demonstrate how it works.
1. Choose a character and narrow their description to what dominant impression he/ she will give the reader. Pick an adjective and a vocation to show how other people perceive him. I’ll give an example: cranky waiter
2. Pick his physical features: Short, stubby body type, thinning hair, flatter nose, frown on face, tattoo of a bulldog on his forearm.
3. What is the character’s background? Where did he grow up? Describe his family life. Describe his economic situation. What is his highest level of education? What pop culture items did he identify with as a younger person? Examples: movies, music, sports teams, etc.
Let’s pretend our cranky waiter grew up in the inner city. He never met his father. His mother adored him, but she died when he turned eighteen. He grew up in poverty and lives paycheck to paycheck. He likes Katy Perry, chili dogs, and wrestling matches.
4. Give the character a past life-altering event that affects him today.
Our waiter has a criminal record for theft and is often rejected at high paying jobs.
5. What does the character desire? What are his goals and dreams?
The waiter wants less stress at work.
Can you see the character? I can. If I couldn’t, I’d search Google for images until I found him. Sometimes I save the photo if I’m using the character in a novel.
Now make a character’s voice journal. Writing it down will serve as a tool to help create the character's personality. How do you think he talks and expresses himself? Base his words on his core values. What is his attitude about life? What makes him mad, crazy or happy? What is important to him? Use any demeanor you like. I’ll make a quick voice journal using our cranky waiter.
Here it goes:
“When it’s noon at the ole slop house, you can bet thirty tables will fill up within fifteen minutes. We’re down two servers, and I’ve been bustin’ my hump. Me waitin’ ten tables an hour. It’s always the same breakfast skippin’ crowd. They’re starvin’ like stray dogs. Double cheeseburgers with double onion rings, and double fries. I’m runnin’ in fifteen directions. Gimme ketchup. Gimme another Pepsi. Gimme more napkins. Gimme water. Gimme, gimme, gimme. They got me trippin’ over my feet and spillin’ the drinks. Last week I dropped a glass of ice water in a lady’s lap. Cost me my tip.”
The cranky man could talk forever if I let him, but I think you get the idea. He sees the world his own way, and the writer must give him a personality on paper for him to have a voice.
Now imagine the server is Mindy, a teenage girl working at Chucky Cheese. She is a cheerful server who loves pepperoni pizza and little kids. She’s working a summer job to buy a scooter. What might she say about working if she has a bubbly personality and I give her a voice?
For voices to come out of a character, the author must identify with the character’s feelings so closely, they merge. You must draw on personal experiences that made you feel the same way as the character. Express it in words, and the reader will feel the same emotion.
If you write a story about a divorced homemaker going on a job interview, you must identify with her emotions when you write her story. If the character feels nervous and insecure, write from your own heart. Remember a time when you were nervous and insecure. Pretend you’re the homemaker when writing the story. The writer becomes the character temporarily to garner empathy for the character.
Try the above techniques when writing your next story. For further reading find a copy of Voice by James Scott Bell.
