Comments on: Giving My Characters Voice

By: Jay Eckert

Jay Eckert — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:22:16 +0000

Grea post, Allison. The book I’m writing is told in first-person – my first shot at first person – and everything you say is so true. I also have found it easier to find my character’s voice when in the first person. I’m in so deep that I can inhabit that character. And I’m with Samantha and Uncle Stevie. Smack your characters around, make their lives miserable. It makes things way more interesting.
.-= Jay Eckert´s last blog ..This blog has relocated to… here? =-.

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By: Samantha Clark

Samantha Clark — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:29:44 +0000

Great post, Allison. More than just giving tips on finding your character’s voice, it gives us a great lesson on upping the ante emotionally. Someone once wrote — I think it was Stephen King — that you should be hard on your characters, don’t let them be comfortable, and your post reminded me of that.

Also, I’m totally with Therese: Chocolate Fudge Ripple with Toffee Chunks sounds waaaaaaaay better than vanilla. :)

Thanks
.-= Samantha Clark´s last blog ..Commit to writing =-.

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By: Bruce H. Johnson

Bruce H. Johnson — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:02:13 +0000

There’s also the concept of volume. Fear is an emotion; at low volume, it’s little twitches and nervousness. At very high volume it’s blind panic. Look at raising or lowering volume to make a change.

Some emotional levels are more “active” than others. Depression/apathy is almost motionless. Anger is actually a higher, better level to be at than apathy; high-volume anger could be rage.

Move your character up or down and vary the volume. A good character arc might involve the character starting pretty low on emotion (perhaps boredom), both tone and volume and end up higher (strong interest) at the end of the story.

Have your character move up/down in both tone and volume throughout the story; this happens in real life. If your story is “tragic”, he’ll end up lower in emotional level. If it’s “happy” he’ll end up higher. A “no-change” starting and ending point is un-determined: he starts out mildly-interested and ends up the same.
.-= Bruce H. Johnson´s last blog ..Tech Writer to Fiction Writer 7: The Plot Thickens =-.

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By: Dolly

Dolly — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:08:58 +0000

It’s a fabulous post. Thank you for sharing your experience. Finding voice is still a concept I am working with. In some stories it’s definitely there. In others it’s not. And learning how to find it is quite an elusive process.
.-= Dolly´s last blog ..Outline Angst =-.

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By: Daisy Whitney

Daisy Whitney — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:00:58 +0000

Great advice as always from one of my favorite authors. Thanks, Allison!

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By: larramiefg

larramiefg — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:08:43 +0000

Fascinating post, Allison. Anger is truly a common denominator and, no matter what our circumstances, we can all relate to that. You earned your dues on this book and I’m sure it will be appreciated.
.-= larramiefg´s last blog ..Practical Advice from Our Authors =-.

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By: Shelley

Shelley — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:49:48 +0000

I think working on my character’s voices is something I need to work at – to make sure they have their own unique voice so they don’t all sound the same…
.-= Shelley´s last blog ..Speed Bump =-.

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By: Catherine Lee

Catherine Lee — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:27:58 +0000

Thanks once for the good advice that, once again, kicks me in the pants. I need it!

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By: Michael Goodell

Michael Goodell — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:05:43 +0000

Allison, good post. Your observations are on the money. I wrote my second novel, a hard-boiled detective mystery, in first person. I definitely had a voice, but at one point it went away from me. I had to put the MS aside for three years until it came back.

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By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:48:49 +0000

I love this post, as I told Allison yesterday. It’s such a great illustration of how changing a character not only affects the readers’ journey but impacts how we as writers feel about going to work every day on a story. Because, yeah, who wants to construct an entire book around Vanilla when there’s Chocolate Fudge Ripple w/ Toffee Chunks?

Thanks, A!

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