#developing voice

[writing-with-olive]

Growing as a writer

[id: minimalist scetched gif of a green plant growing out of a brown pot. There is a yellow background. On the yellow background are the words “you will grow.” (above potted plant) and “it just takes time” (below potted plant). Words move a little bit, and are written in black/dark brown. /end id]

I've been working on my current WIP for about two years now, which has caused me to reflect a little bit about how far I've come as a writer even just during the writing process of Project Toxin, but also writing in general. One of the biggest things that I've noticed is that as a writer, you have to allow yourself to grow.

(how and why you can grow as a writer below the cut)

The first thing is why wouldn't you?

The thing about beginners when they're just starting to get the hang of a craft, before they've really delved into it head first is that as soon as something works, we (I'm including my novice self here) decide that that's just how we are. That the thing is how it has to be because it works. But just because something works doesn't mean it's the only thing that works.

Okay, I know I'm supposed to grow. But how?

The first thing is to just keep writing and don't give up, even when your characters don't listen and your fictional world seems like it's going up in flames. Experience is key. The other thing, especially as a beginner, is to experiment. Think you're a plotter? Try pantsing a story. If it doesn't work, go back to plotting. Or vice versa. Think you can only write in a specific genre? consider branching out. The main thing to remember is that none of these experiments are permenant. You can always revert back to what you used to do. The difference now is that you've got a more holistic understanding of who you are as a writer. 

Writing is just really daunting - how do I grow if I'm already overwhelmed?

Take it one step at a time. If fanfic is your thing go for it! There's no shame in writing fanfiction, and it gives you a chance to practice developing your voice and other skills, with pre-established characters and settings. If you want to write fanfic, but also create your own aspects of the world, make OCs or do an alternate universe (au). You can also do things like screenwriting or short stories or pretty much whatever. Different mediums put the emphasis on different parts of story, so just try stuff out until you find one that you like, and even then, continue to experiment. It's amazing how much is transferable between different styles of storytelling. 

But the Greats tm don't seem to be changing their style a lot!

To be fair, they've been writing for quite a while now. As experienced and published authors, they've tried many things - some published, some not, and they've figured out what works for their style, and to publish. And they've changed along the way. For example: look at YA author Sarah J. Maas; her writing style and voice has changed drastically between her first books and her more recent ones. Even if you're a more experienced author, you're still going to change and grow.

Look. I'm new to this, but I know I don't want to change my style. I like it how it is!

You do you. I can't force you to do anything. I will give you a word of warning though. Growth is inevitable. No matter what, as authors, we write. That gives us experience. The only way you can truly avoid growth with your writing is if you stop writing. No matter what, you will develop a voice. And your writing will adapt to who you are as a writer. 

With all that in mind....

Happy writing!

[sunnydwrites]

Creating Character Voice

Today, we’re talking about character voice: what it is, how to build it, and how to include it in your story.

What is character voice?

Simply put, character voice is what’s associated with the way your character speaks. Think of the pitch of their voice, the articulatory placement of their vowels, any accent they may have, any mannerisms.

Character voice is most commonly associated with the main character or whoever is doing the narration otherwise, and for good reason: this voice should likely be the most developed of all the character voices you’ll work with, because this is the one the audience will be the most exposed to.

How can I build character voice?

Remember that a character swearing one time doesn’t affirm in the reader’s mind that they’ve a colorful vocabulary. However, if you reinforce this concept by having them swear and speak in generally vulgar terms, then your reader will come to associate this with the voice of the character doing the swearing.

Consistency is your friend. One action doesn’t establish a rule in real life, and it shouldn’t in fiction, either. Character voice is mostly built through repeated exposure, as one conversation doesn’t necessarily dictate the way that a character speaks in general.

What can I develop with character voice?

Here’s a list of things you can get started on to give you a stronger sense of your character’s voice:

average pitch.

average volume.

voice placement. (nasal, guttural, etc.)

accent or lack thereof.

mannerisms or commonly used words/phrases.

use of slang.

common filler words.

How can I include character voice in my story?

Simply put: let your characters speak according to their voice. If they’re speaking differently from normal, let that be recognized in your story. If a non-narrator character is speaking, don’t be afraid to occasionally remind the reader what their voice sounds like (when it’s relevant).

Be careful when writing filler words, for example if a character has a habit of overusing “like.” Think of this passage:

“Yeah, like, I don’t think it’s like that important, but I think it should be, like, paid attention to. Like, if it was you, you wouldn’t want to be treated like that, would you? Even though they’re just, like, little kids, like... I feel like they should be treated with, like, respect.”

While the use of “like” builds the reader’s knowledge that this character enjoys filler words, it takes away from comprehension of the passage. If I was editing this section, I would change it to something like this:

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s that important, but I think it should be paid attention to. If it was you, you wouldn’t want to be treated like that, would you? Even though they’re just little kids, I feel like they should be treated with respect.” I take a moment to pick out the words she means to say among the copious “like”s, and it makes total sense.

Or something like that, but better written. The point I’m making here is that you can include character voice and mannerisms without writing them to a tee in actual dialogue. The same goes for writing accents phonetically. If your narrator feels the need to point out these details, then your readers will more likely than not recognize them.

-

That’s all I’ve got for character voice today! If you’ve any follow-ups or other questions, my ask box is always open!

If this post helped you out, please consider buying me a coffee over on ko-fi!

[chungwipff-blog]

#100 of 462 Things to Draw

[oboe-wankinobi]

Soprano Probs

So either my sinuses and throat is so gunked up and sick that I lost a whole 5th to my range, or I am developing into a mezzo...

[coordinationdifferentftr]

How To Clutch a Singing Voice

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[divisioncreditautomotivest]

How To Get a Hootenanny Voting right

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[superstitionrev]

To call a song into life is a realization of the relationship between musician and instrument, much like to write with a strong voice is the realization of the relationship between author and book. This, to me, is the essence of voice. Voice is the music called into being by the writer and put into words.

Writer Unboxed » Develop Voice by Listening