《How to Write Stories People Will Love》Question 81: Distinctive character voices
Advertisement
asks: I'm planning to write a book with four POV characters. However, it's all in first-person. How do I make all the voices distinctive so they don't all sound the same?
Before we get into character voices, I'd like to suggest that each chapter be titled with the name of the POV character's name. Otherwise it will be very confusing for the reader to figure out who's talking since the story is in first person, even if we use distinctive voices.
An affectation is a particular behavior or attitude that isn't natural, often displayed in an effort to impress or humor others. For example, someone may love to speak in hyperbole and exaggerate everything they say. Instead of "a driver cut me off on the freeway today," they might say, "this car swerved out of nowhere and practically ran me off the road! I almost died!"
Think about gestures that some people habitually make while speaking. Maybe they wave their hands around a lot, maybe they mumble a lot, or maybe they don't make much eye contact. Some people laugh too much when they're nervous. These are different ways to make a character feel like a person rather than a cardboard cutout.
Speech patterns refer to the way someone expresses themselves when they speak. These could be accents (refer to Question 71: Accents if you want more information on writing accents), repeated phrases, or favored word choices. Maybe someone could, like, pause in their talking a lot to, like, use the word "like" a lot. Maybe a character likes to say "BOOM" every time he makes a point. Another character could overuse the phrase "it is what it is" at every opportunity.
The next time you're hanging out with a group of friends, observe them like an anthropologist might. Watch what they do with their hands. See how one person tends to dominate the conversation more than others. Maybe he or she likes to cut off other people in order to voice their own opinions. Listen for noises of acknowledgement that people make instead of speaking. For example, mm-hmm or cough-insults. Intentionally observing group interactions like this is a great way to store a little reference guide in your head for the next time you need to imagine different characters talking to each other.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Trash Heap
Humanity has been thrown out. They are tossed to an unforgiving universe filled with strange beings with stranger cultures. Without god's firm hand those cast out have run amuck. Far away from a friendly face, John Union has been dropped onto a foreign world. He is forced to put his fear and hatred aside, to survive in a strange world. Sentenced to journeying through the dungeon with his hands tied behind his back, John has to rely on his wits and his ever growing skill set. On the way John must do horrible things to gain power.
8 117Healers Path
A horrific accident has left Jake Thorndon broken. An unorthodox treatment is prescribed - sending his mind into a virtual world while his body heals, and hopefully forcing his mind to rebuild the pathways through his brain. Can Jake prosper in the virtual world?Can he mend his broken body, and return to the real world? Cover art courtesy of WhatYouCallHome (http://whatyoucallhome.deviantart.com/art/On-the-Forest-Floor-246556591)
8 117Magic Empireum: Blood Coin
After a prolonged war between the militarized state of Nauler and the great Kingdom of Altarcia, mediation from the Vindean Empire finally bears fruit. To prevent mass starvation in the eastern Kingdom, Vindeans lifts its customs on the border and funds every merchant willing to supply Altarcians with food and other basic necessities. This opportunity will open a way for quick-witted traders to build their fortunes on common folk ill fate! Where the sword can't reach, the spy will deal a fatal hit. Never in modern history has the world seen such a ridiculous situation, where two enemies can control each other with their intelligence network while failing to govern their own lands for the same reason. Every event taking place has at least three sides looking for their faction profit. As the western continent falls deeper and deeper into a quagmire of schemes and infighting, beyond the great continental wall a mass of barbarians is venturing north in search for a better way to invade these damn knights. Unbeknownst to them, an army trained in the blaze of endless conflict sets forth to foil their plans. If only the eastern frontline didn't require over a million man strong force to be maintained! When everyone is aiming at everyone's throat, great schemes are changing the power balance between the powerhouses, one can only look to improve his own situation. When rulers are sending fathers and sons to battles, daughters and mothers whore themselves to afford another handful of wheat. Only the strong can prevail? All of them either died in the past battles or are enjoying the benefits of the jungle law. In this harsh reality, to win means to survive. To survive means to end other people's lives. To live means to exploit others. How can one reach for greatness, when this world is nothing but a toy in the hands of so-called 'God'?
8 608The Summoned Queen[Revamp]
Synopsis Suno Temeria's heritage was of the royal family of the Temerian Empire. With the Temerian Empire annexed by the Kingdom of Toria, Suno, now ex-royalty, is currently the target of hate and disgust in the academy he is attending.However, this did not stop him from being a genius at magic, giving him more options than what he has at the moment. So with his extensive knowledge, he came up with a plan to get a companion to talk to and to help him along the way. He decided to use a summoning spell to do this and what came out of the portal was....“I am the Queen of Toria, Sora Lune what might thee want from me?”"Eh!?!"_______________________________________________________________________________________________This is my first time posting a fiction so please be gentle when you give your reviews on my story and depending on my mood I will have a chapter out. Summary/Synopsis by LordofVoids
8 80Colossal Adventure
The first in a series of 4 books, called "Out of Bounds". In this one we are firstly introduced to Dandelion, who will narrate not only to the reader, but to a bunch of people in the Storyteller Fest who are willing to listen to the story he has been commanded to tell by beings beyond his understanding. He tells about a girl who gets sent into another world through a video game console - the planet Dunia, that harbors the hidan and the hidanna. She quickly realizes there is something sinister in this world only she can see, and gets abducted as a result. However, she is rescued by a boy who calls himself the best Summoner in the world, and is forced to team up with him to be able to return home. But, is she really just inside a video game? And who ordered Dandelion to tell this story, and why?
8 100All the dark roses in my thoughts..
Poetry Collection..
8 63