If I had to name one topic about writing that is the most mentioned and the least quantifiable, it’s voice. Publishers want a unique writer voice. Agents look for distinct character voices. Readers dislike reading abrasive narrator voices. On an on, everyone talks about voice; however, very few people can explain it.
Though I don’t claim to be an expert (yet), I have been doing a lot of research on the topic and would like to share my findings with you. I am going to break voice into three parts: character, narrator, and writer. This week, let’s talk about character voice and practical ways to create it for each of your characters.
What Is Character Voice?
When people talk about character voice, they often are referring to dialogue, but it extends beyond their diction. Character voice is the portrayal of the character’s personality through actions, thoughts, and speech. Voice is really about personality and how it’s expressed.
If you want distinct character voices, you need to create deep characters. You can do initial characterization before writing the story or go back once you’re done and make character profiles based on the writing. Regardless of your process, you need to know your characters before you can hone their distinct voices.
Dialogue
The most recognizable aspect of character voice is dialogue. Everyone talks differently, and it can be hard to keep your own voice out of the character’s speech. The easiest way to learn new ways of speaking is to listen to people around you. Note what type of words they use and the rate and flow of their speech.
Unfortunately, for most people this is hard to grasp—especially in real time speech. When I was studying linguistics, we could never give an accurate analysis of speech without first transcribing it. You identify some things like demographics from the accents, but it wasn’t easy to conduct a deep analysis while trying to keep up with what is being said. If you have an ear for speech, you could ask a few people for permission to record them talking and study it, but sometimes that is even difficult.
Studying speech in action is the best way to develop and mimic unique voices, but I want to offer three ways you can create distinct character voices in a simpler manner.
1. Diction
The first thing to develop in dialogue is the diction, or word choice, of each character. Are they college graduates with a high level of vocabulary or children in middle school with limited word choice? Do they speak colloquially or formally? It’s also a good idea to develop some common phrases for each character. Is their favorite motto “waste not, want not”? Do they overuse the word “totally”? How do they greet someone? You don’t have to go crazy reusing their favorite phrases or words, but, if you sprinkle them in consistently, you can set a subconscious precedent in your readers about the characters.
2. Syntax
After you know each character’s word choice, you need to look at how they string those words together. Syntax is how you rearrange words to make a sentence. It’s something that is taught into us at an early age and hard to change. However, you can consciously alter it. Do the characters talk in long, flowery sentences or short, blunt ones? Does the person talk around the topic using passive constructions or shoot straight with active sentences? Do they use contractions? All of this will vary the characters’ voices and make them distinct.
3. Agenda
Whenever we talk, we have a goal for what we want to accomplish with our words. Whether it’s grab someone’s attention, learn something, or direct someone to get a task accomplished, there is meaning behind what we say. People will talk with that agenda in mind, and it will shape their dialogue.
For instance, how does your character answer a question? If he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, he might merely give a one-word answer. If he has something to hide, he might deflect by asking a different question in hopes of distracting the other person. Or, he may be so desperate for attention that he answers in a paragraph when three words would have worked. Whenever your characters open their mouths to speak, make sure they have an agenda behind their words.
Body Language
When you picture someone, it isn’t just about what they look like but how they hold themselves. Do they slump their shoulders forward or stand straight? Are their movements fluid or awkward? Do they stand with their hands crossed in front, hanging by their sides, or in their pockets? When they are thinking, do they bite their lips, pick at their beards, or rub their arms? Give your characters mannerisms and habits. After a while the readers will learn that yanking on a shirt means anxiety, and you won’t have to tell them. Remember, it’s better to show than tell.
Personality
Beyond dialogue and body language, personality is the next biggest aspect we use to define people. Are they gleeful, solemn, or funny? Their personality will leak through their dialogue and actions. It’s who they are and should be in everything they do.
The easiest way to give your characters distinct personalities is to use a personality test. There are several available that you can take to determine your personality. Instead, look at the categories and assign each character one of the categories. You can get as in-depth or shallow as you want with this. Some tests only offer four results (Four Animals Personality Test). Others have numerous options made from combinations of different categories (Enneagram Personality Test). Use whichever one helps you the best while not distracting you from actually writing your story.
Focus
Focus deals with the character’s worldview. They grew up with certain beliefs that will shape their actions and choices. These beliefs can stem from religion, traumatic experiences (character wounds), or education. Based on these things, they will see others and themselves a certain way that will be different from anyone else. One will notice people’s wardrobe while another sees people’s weaknesses to exploit.
Characters will also see the world differently. One may notice the flowers in the woods while another only sees the possible threats. All characters should have fears and desires that guide how they act. Use their unique past to dictate where they place their focus in the present.
Character Voice Exercise
Character voices are hard to keep distinct when you are one person, but it’s possible with practice and a few tools. The best way to know if you are doing it right is to do a scrub. A scrub is when you blackout every character name and see if you can tell who is who. Can you name characters based on how they talk? Stand? Describe a room? If so, you’re doing a great job.
For me, I have a memory that doesn’t allow me to do a scrub (since I remember who I wrote doing what). My solution is to delete the names and have someone else read it. Label each main character with a different number the first time they appear in the scene, and then give the whole scene to your reader. Have them label the rest of the blanks with the number they think fits. If they can’t differentiate the characters or get two confused, you need to work on those characters.
Final Thoughts
Distinct character voices mean having well-developed characters and allowing them to express themselves on the page. While some shallow tricks (like favorite phrases) help distinguish the characters, it’s the deeper emotional connections that really separate voices. Their experiences and personalities make them unique. If you have well-developed characters, giving them distinct voices is easier.
Thanks for reading!
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