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Tip Tuesday | Capturing the Voice of Your Main Character

Sometimes you will see the comment that someone either wrote a character/person either really well or really out of character. There are some things you can do to get into the headspace of your main character or write in a way to keep a characterization consistent.

1. Watch the source material, if fictional and watch interviews, if writing RPF. One of the biggest things I hear is “you really capture of the voice” or “I totally believe he would say that”. One of the reasons why is because when I started out writing Loki, I would watch the movies, especially Thor: the Dark World. When writing Tom, I still listen and watch interviews. Call it research but it definitely helps get you in the right headspace.

2. Adapt key catchphrases and other verbal ticks. One thing I would not suggest is copying catchphrases word for word. It feels forced. So don’t have Loki saying “I am burdened with glorious purpose”, when I see that I am immediately turned off. Make it your own, twist it. If you have a character that stutters or speaks slow and deliberate, incorporate that.

3. Figure out the pattern and rhythm of speech. There is a natural rhythm to everyone’s speech. Again, listening to the source material helps out with this. Loki’s speech is languid and smooth. Asgardians speak almost in a Shakespearean manner. While Tony Stark is quippy and sharp. He uses a lot of pop culture references. Chris Evans doesn’t speak like Tom Hiddleston who doesn’t speak like Anthony Mackie. Hear your dialogue in your head.

4. Use consistent nicknames and other phrases. Another way to help capture the voice is to use consistent nicknames. Certain characters will use certain nicknames (or in the case of Tony Stark, only use nicknames). It kind of grinds my gears when I see fics with characters/people using nicknames I feel are out of characters. So an easy example is Tom Hiddleston calling people “darling”, he does it all the time in interviews and what not. Very natural.

5. If you want to go out of character, set it in an AU. If you are wanting to go “off script” so to speak, set your story in an AU. In an AU, you set the rules. Want a shy character to be dominate? Make them a mobster or a lawyer. This is fiction, make it your own.

And there you go. Until next week!