New writers are told to find their writing voice. They read that a particular author has a distinct voice, and that editors and agents are looking for manuscripts with “authentic voice.” And their biggest question is how to develop their own literary voice.
What is Literary Voice?
So what is literary voice? It’s a writer’s individual style which he or she uses to tell a story. A writer’s voice encompasses tone, word choice, and syntax. The balance of description, narrative and dialogue contributes to a writer’s voice.
The short, snappy action sentences of Robert Ludlum would never be confused with the sassy, chatty chick lit of Meg Cabot or the lyrical, thoughtful descriptions of Marilynne Robinson. Each writer has his or her own voice, and it shines through in every book they write.
Develop Your Own Writing Voice
The first thing to do to develop your own voice is simply to write. Write short stories, write pages of dialogue, write description through a character’s viewpoint, begin a novel or two or three. Write, write, and write some more.
Patterns in Writing
Now that you’ve put in the hours of practice and have a body of your own writing to study, look for patterns in what you’ve written:
- What shows up in them consistently? Who are you usually writing about? Adventurers? Homemakers? Dreamers? Doers? Small town life? A particular business? (i.e. legal, art, teaching, etc.) If you write for children, what ages are your characters?
- What have you included in your stories? Humor? Suspense? Social aspects? Emotional issues?
- Do you usually write in first or third person?
- What is your natural choice for your protagonist’s gender?
These patterns will show up over time, so the more you write, the more you’ll discover about your natural voice. And the more you write, the more that voice develops.
Writing With Different Voices
Just because you have discovered your natural voice doesn’t mean that you can’t change and develop.
Some writers use practice time and free writing to develop other styles. A change in writing habits can make a difference, too. Some writers have one voice when they write drafts on the computer or typewriter, but a different style emerges when they write longhand.
You can also play with writing from the viewpoint of very different characters. Try to get into the head of a teenage girl, or a frustrated English teacher, or an auto mechanic, or a serial killer. Or tell the same story from the viewpoint of three different characters, changing your syntax and word choice to match the character. Each will sound different, and as you get into their heads and their voices, you’ll get practice with different voices of your own.
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