How to Write Character Voice

Voice is a powerful tool for creating a memorable character, by showing the character's personality through language. A reader can learn so much about a character just through their narrative voice.

Creating voice is a combination of understanding your character, and applying that understanding to the language. You can use sentence rhythm to mimic your character's thought patterns and personality, and use word choice and imagery to show their backstory. You can even introduce new or experimental elements into a character's voice to make their narrative even more memorable.

RELATED VIDEOS

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Personality
1:21 - Framing
3:00 - Word choice
3:45 - Patterning
5:15 - Adding flair
6:00 - Summary

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[notthatserious]

The protagonist of my story is a drunken pirate who's tasked with solving a high school monster mystery. I plan to make it so his words are simple and slurred, with frequent pauses in his dialogue as if collecting his thoughts or fighting off a hangover. I also intend for him to be sensitive to light and sounds more than the average person and to never go too in-depth when describing things as well, he's a DRUNK. Add in a couple sailor analogies, words, and motifs and boom that his voice! This video really helped alot thank you!

[lorakane]

I have a character who slips tense, I know it's wrong, and I've tried to correct it, but it flows naturally as his voice. He is very high energy, thinks in circles, and thinks very viscerally. Even in dialogue, he shows a difficulty with the flow of time. His thoughts just don't fade like they should. He isn't very physical, hides his emotions well, doesn't experience stomach flips, or tensed shoulders, he simply thinks very quickly and decides just as quickly to cover his first impression if necessary. When I stop his in the moment thoughts from flowing into his past tense narrative, it simply doesn't read like him anymore. It's first person, so after trying to fix it and ending up with a lot of bulky sentences, trying to explain what he thought in the moment, I decided it has to stay and simply put the slips in italics. I feel this can work authentically because that is how I experience my own stories when I tell them. I also hope it helps to separate him from his cousin, who tends to drag on and use words that remove him from the story in moments that he feels distressed, which also puts him a little too close to telling and not showing, but anyway, at least I know where I am breaking the rules, right?

[cluejpg]

i just discovered this channel today and have been binging your videos since, the content is really great, helps a lot! i generally write horror and am thinking of making a story collection, every video here helps! thank you!

[Cisntcritter]

I struggle with the classic over use of dialogue tags and want to work on it but I was worried readers would get confused about who is talking. Thank you for this, I think it will help

[victorthurse]

I know someone who is really into heavy metal. He preaches against religion - like a sermon. You don't have to say much to get him going. I suppose I should study the script. It is really impressive.

[Dogboon-]

Exactly what I was just thinking about

[ASweetShortCake]

To add onto what you said… I personally feel like flair can be anything. Like a Character talking in Plurals, “Becauses”. “With’s”. “And’s”. “In’s”. Etc.

“I want that ball becauses it’s mine!”
“I’m just walking on home with’s my friend”
“And’s what? And’s your just going to take it?”
“In’s the house, Pal”.

There are characters with unique speech patterns in media, and it’s good inspiration for character personalities and voice.

[conejitoburrito]

I was wondering if anyone could answer a question I have. If the story is in past tense, does it have to be reflective? I chose past tense for my story without really thinking, but the reflective bit doesn't really fit. Do I have to use that feature?

[saritaschaffter]

This is very helpful. As I’m writing a fantasy mystery novel(for my debút novel) called the lost prince of Alfheim(currently on inkitt and wattpad and I’m crafting the Main character voice.

[angyvirtu]

Can this advice be used for character dialogue or is it just for character narration?

[juliesit]

Does the protagonist and their love interest both have to have an inciting incident? Also compared to protagonist how far should I develop the love interest? What would their character profile look like?

[sumayyahkhan]

Can you do a video of how to write an adventure story please

[milestrombley]

I borrow voices from other characters I know.

[jesus_islord_john]

This is very helpful. Thank you, for your advice.
P.S. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Anyone, who shall believe in him, shall not put have everlasting life. (John 3:16)