Finding Your Voice

How to use your character's voice to connect with readers

“Once I learned to value and respect my characters, I could really hear them. I let them start talking.” - August Wilson

Sometimes, the difference between words on a page and a story that sticks with you is the voice of your main character. This is true no matter what perspective you’re writing in, but it’s especially important if your story is told from 1st or 2nd perspective. (3rd person allows for more of the author’s voice to come through alongside the individual characters.)

First of all, in order to find your character’s voice, you have to draw a distinction between what is being said and how it is being said. Someone recalling an anecdote by building up to the punch line gradually and setting a humorous tone early on is always more interesting than someone who is simply reporting the facts of what happened.

How information comes across can give the reader an abundance of insight into your main character without you having to spell out their age, background, interests, etc., plainly on the page. A character that focuses on the less important details might indicate immaturity, a lack of interest, or awareness. Characters that talk in circles or phrase their thoughts as questions come across as untrustworthy, nervous, or generally lacking confidence.

Second, your character’s voice should tell the reader how they see themselves and the world. This is often where the effectiveness of an ‘unreliable narrator’ comes into play. Any character that is narrating events from a single perspective is, to some degree, an ‘unreliable narrator’, but you should be able to hint to the reader how subjective or objective your character is capable of being. The more contradictions and explanations your character has to provide to make sense of what other people are saying or doing, the more you invite the reader to question your protagonist’s worldview.

Third, remember that a character arc isn’t exclusive to your character’s actions or choices. The way they speak and perceive can radically change, and that should be reflected in their voice. Even a subtler arc should impact your protagonist’s voice, even if it’s only subconsciously noticeable by the reader.

To sum up, your character’s voice shouldn’t be neglected; it’s important to make their tone and word choice deliberate and keep in mind that any change in their internal or external world might shift their voice as well.