When we talk about voice in fiction, we mean the way a character (or a narrator) speaks, thinks, reacts, and so on. Word choice, sentence structure, dialog, and interior voice come into play. So does style. We know a strong voice when we see it but sometimes we struggle to pull it off.
How do you achieve voice in your fiction?
I’ve worked with enough writers to know there’s more than one answer to that question. Some would suggest using first-person point of view to create a strong voice, just as Mark Twain does in Huck Finn. Renni Browne and Dave King include examples of a strong authorial voice in Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. They point to the opening passage of Moby Dick as a good example of a strong, authorial voice:
Call me Ismael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.
As Browne and King point out, it took Herman Melville years to develop that voice. Their advice to writers: Take the time to develop your own, authentic voice. They also suggest that writers read their writing aloud as they hone their voices. Characters also need to have authentic voices that reflect and project their personalities and motives.
Some writers suggest using close narrative style to engage readers’ interest by drawing them into the emotions and thoughts of the character. We see this approach working well in third-person point of view in this passage from K.M. Weiland’s Dreamlander:
“Maybe someday,” he said. The good thing about someday was that it was a long way away. And it rolled around, leaving was a lot easier than staying—for everyone involved.
He crossed the kitchen. “I’ve got to go. I’ll probably be back late. Good luck with Brooke.”
In a story I’m writing, I found that switching to first-person point of view helped me figure out the main character’s voice. I may switch back to third-person once I begin to pin down aspects of the plot, but only if I can maintain the main character’s voice. If I decide to make the switch, I will use close narrative style to draw readers closer to the protagonist’s thoughts and emotions.
How do you achieve voice in your fiction?