Creating Distinctive Character Voices in Your Writing

As a writing coach, I always strive to help my clients create vivid and engaging characters in their writing. Recently, one of my clients and I discussed the importance of developing distinctive character voices. In this article, we'll explore the key factors that contribute to creating unique character voices and provide tips to help you master this essential aspect of writing. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting, read on to learn how to make your characters truly come alive on the page.

In addition to making your main characters stand out, creating distinctive voices for your side characters can also greatly enhance your writing. Minor characters who are well-developed and have unique voices can add depth and richness to the world you've created, making it more believable and engaging for your readers. So, don't neglect the supporting cast in your writing. Take the time to develop their personalities and speech patterns, and your readers will be rewarded with a more immersive and satisfying reading experience.

Understanding your Character(s) Personalities

Writers use many tools to create their characters and keep their personalities consistent throughout the work in progress. Here are a few tools authors use for character personalities.

-Western astrology is a system that assigns personality traits to individuals based on the positions of the planets and stars at the time of their birth. A writer can use this system to develop more complex and nuanced characters, by assigning each character a unique astrological sign and incorporating its corresponding traits into their personality. For example, a character born under the sign of Aries may be impulsive and competitive, while a character born under the sign of Pisces may be empathetic and creative. By using astrology as a tool, a writer can add depth and complexity to their characters, making them feel more like real people.

-Eastern astrology is another system that writers can use to develop more nuanced characters. Similar to Western astrology, it assigns personality traits to individuals based on the positions of the stars and planets at the time of their birth. However, Eastern astrology often emphasizes different traits and has different systems for assigning those traits. For example, in Chinese astrology, each year is associated with an animal sign, such as the rat, ox, or tiger. Each animal sign is believed to have specific personality traits, and a writer can use these traits to develop their characters. By incorporating Eastern astrology into their writing process, authors can create characters with rich and complex personalities that feel more authentic and relatable to readers.

-Myers-Briggs

Another tool and the one I use personally, that writers use to develop their characters' personalities is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This personality test assigns individuals one of 16 personality types based on their preferences for four dichotomies: extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving. By assigning each character a unique personality type, writers can develop more nuanced and consistent personalities. For example, a character with an INFP personality type may be idealistic and empathetic, while a character with an ESTJ personality type may be practical and decisive. Incorporating MBTI personality types can help writers create characters that feel more realistic and well-rounded.

-The Nine Enneagram Type is another tool writers can use to create complex and well-rounded characters. This personality system assigns individuals one of nine personality types based on their core motivations and fears. Each type has distinct strengths and weaknesses that can be used to create unique character voices. For example, a character with a Type One personality may be principled and perfectionistic, while a character with a Type Seven personality may be adventurous and spontaneous. By incorporating the Enneagram system into their writing process, authors can create characters with deep inner lives and motivations, making them feel more fully realized and relatable to readers.

These are just a few ways to create personalities for your characters, both the main characters and side characters.

The Distinctive Voice Tool

Another tool for creating distinctive character voices comes from James V. Smith, Jr.'s book The Writer's Little Helper: The Distinctive Voice Tool. This tool focuses on five elements: vocabulary, verbosity, velocity, viewpoint, and venom. By manipulating these elements, writers can create unique and memorable character voices that stand out on the page.

-Vocabulary

Let’s start with the first part of this tool, character voices is through their vocabulary. The words a character uses can reveal a lot about their background, education level, and even their personality. For example, a character who uses lots of slang and informal language may come across as more casual and approachable, while a character who uses more formal language may be perceived as more educated or professional. Additionally, using regional or cultural colloquialisms can help establish a character's origins or background. By paying attention to a character's word choice and tailoring it to their personality and background, writers can create distinct and memorable voices that bring their characters to life on the page.

-Verbose

Another element of James V. Smith, Jr.'s Distinctive Voice Tool is verbosity, or how much a character talks. Some characters may be loquacious and verbose, while others may be more laconic and to-the-point. The amount a character talks can reveal a lot about their personality and their role in the story. For example, a character who talks a lot may be seen as more outgoing and sociable, while a character who is quieter may be seen as more introspective or mysterious. By paying attention to a character's verbosity and using it to reflect their personality and role in the story, writers can create distinctive and memorable voices that help bring their characters to life on the page.

-Velocity

Another element of James V. Smith, Jr.'s Distinctive Voice Tool is velocity, or the speed at which a character speaks. The pace of a character's speech can reveal a lot about their personality and emotional state. For example, a character who speaks quickly and with a lot of energy may be seen as more excitable or anxious, while a character who speaks slowly and deliberately may be seen as more thoughtful or deliberate. By paying attention to a character's velocity and using it to reflect their personality and emotional state, writers can create distinctive and memorable voices that help bring their characters to life on the page.

-Viewpoint

Another element in James V. Smith, Jr.'s Distinctive Voice Tool is viewpoint or a character's perspective on the world. A character's viewpoint can be influenced by their background, experiences, beliefs, and values, and can greatly affect the way they speak and interact with others. By paying attention to a character's viewpoint and using it to reflect their personality and background, writers can create distinctive and memorable voices that help bring their characters to life on the page. For example, a character who grew up in poverty may have a more cynical or jaded viewpoint on the world, while a character who had a privileged upbringing may have a more optimistic or naïve viewpoint. By using viewpoint to shape a character's voice, writers can create characters that feel authentic and unique.

-Venom

The final element in James V. Smith, Jr.'s Distinctive Voice Tool is venom, or a character's underlying emotional state. A character's venom can be revealed through their word choice, tone, and body language, and can greatly affect the way they interact with others. By paying attention to a character's venom and using it to reflect their personality and emotional state, writers can create distinctive and memorable voices that help bring their characters to life on the page. For example, a character who is angry or resentful may speak with a harsh or biting tone, while a character who is anxious or uncertain may speak with a hesitant or stuttering tone. By using venom to shape a character's voice, writers can create characters that feel authentic and unique.

Maintaining a consistent voice for each character.

Maintaining a consistent voice for each character is essential to creating a believable and engaging story.

One way to achieve this is by keeping notes on each character's personality, speech patterns, and vocabulary.

This ensures that each character's voice remains consistent throughout the work and helps prevent them from blending together. Another way is to read dialogue out loud and ask yourself if it sounds like something that character would say. If it doesn't, make adjustments to ensure that the dialogue fits the character's voice. Finally, it's important to pay attention to a character's emotional state and how it affects their speech. A character who is angry or upset may speak differently than one who is calm and collected. By keeping these factors in mind and consistently reviewing and refining each character's voice, writers can create truly distinctive and memorable characters.

Also remember that you can always go back and fix this in revision by following each character through the work and checking their voice and personality and how they react and interact with the other characters and your world.

This article explores how to create distinctive character voices in writing by understanding character personalities, incorporating dialogue and dialects, using tone and word choice, maintaining consistency, and more. By paying attention to a character's vocabulary, verbosity, velocity, viewpoint, and venom, writers can create unique and memorable character voices that stand out on the page. Maintaining a consistent voice for each character is essential to creating a believable and engaging story. With these tips, writers can create truly distinctive and memorable characters that enhance their writing.

If you're interested in learning more about developing distinctive character voices or have any other writing-related questions, I offer free consultations on my Buy Me a Coffee page at buymeacoffee.com/sacrow.