How to make your characters sound different (TWO MINUTE TECHNIQUE)

Giving your characters different voices is about more than just what they say.

There's a whole load more things you can add into your dialogue and narration to give your characters distinct, recognisable voices. It's easy to do, it's just a matter of knowing your character, and letting them speak through you.

This is Two Minute Technique - the series in which I show you a quick and easy improvement you can make to your writing, in just two minutes.

You can apply these tips to novel writing, short stories, flash fiction, any and all creative writing. They're all designed to be quick writing tips you can put into practice today.

Feel free to suggest a topic in the comments! Let me know what you would find useful!

I make two new videos about writing every week. Click here to subscribe, let's get better at writing together!:

The most important thing when you're new to writing, or a beginner at anything really, is to keep writing. Keep putting down words, paragraphs, plots, characters, you will learn as you go, and you can use the experience of the writing community to fill in the gaps where you're not sure.

Thank you so much for watching!

#charactervoices #twominutetechnique #authortube

[TheLunaTicexe]

When I clicked on this video, I was looking for advice for voice acting, making my voices sound more unique and less like my own. While this was for writing rather than voice acting, this is surprisingly helpful! Thank you so much!

[nehukybis]

What a character decides >not> to say says a lot about them as well. There are a lot of reasons one person might not say something that another person would say in the same situation.
A weak leader, or a leader who doesn't trust their subordinates might raise their voice, and remind the subordinate of their authority with phrases like "and that's an order", or "do I make myself clear?" A strong leader in the same situation will simply give the order, or even phrase the order as a request, because they trust the subordinate to understand the importance of the order and use their best judgment in carrying it out.
A person might use more tact in dealing with someone they don't know well, but be more blunt with a close ally.

Most of the difference between good dialog and bad dialog is subtext. That's why the dialog in soap operas and hallmark movies often sounds so bad. Everyone says exactly what they're thinking, all the time.

[heimerblaster]

I like your advice Mr. Westwood to the point example / fix /suggestions. Very useful.

[hannahk]

Dude you are killing it, these videos are incredibly useful and well thought out ! Thank you for keeping the writing advice and inspiration coming :)

[NicoleWilbur]

I love that example! So cool to see how the writing improves with more distinct voices!

[wandajune]

So useful! I would enjoy a 2-minute on doing different genders

[christopherdrost]

I usually get this down in the first go, but I wasn't doing it consciously so this is a great reminder to check for that. Some of my side characters can use this treatment in the editing phase.

[Sknyloc]

This was great. I’m glad someone figured out how to explain stuff quickly. Thank you. Lol

[AuthorAnneSophie]

That was great advice, i'm definitly going to try to consider who my characters are beforehand more from now on! Thanks :)

[MattDigmanandRyanRoddy]

Nice! Loving this two minute technique series!

[rasmusborg]

I like the video man. I thought however I was gone get a sort of 4 step gradually changing scene though. Something where the same scene and same dialogue is acted out but with a small change with every step to show how to make character voices different from one another by simply adding the things that you do talk about in the video. Your great and more actual scenes would be even better!

[IZIKTOONS]

I want to be able to voicerover several characters for my Animation. But my voice is thick and deep. How do i go through it?

[kempiro]

That first example was a quote from Azimov, right? ;)

[GracefulLiving]

Hi! Do you have any ideas how a flamboyant friendly, yet fraudulent puppet character would speak?

[sophiamontes]

What if the main character is a male?