The writer’s voice is made up of many components, including character development, dialogue, diction, tone, syntax, and so forth. A writer’s voice reflects his or her upbringing, belief systems, and interests, making voice something unique and elusive. In terms of creative writing, defining voice in precise terms is difficult simply because the concept includes elements that are intangible and ever-evolving.
Many people use the term writer's voice to indicate a set of identifiable characteristics that distinguishes one author from another. In short, the writer's voice is a sort of fingerprint used to identify that author.
Finding one's voice is a term that one hears frequently in writing courses. What this refers to is an ongoing process of experimenting with different styles of writing as a means of developing a unique style that is your own.
Another phrase that is often tossed around in describing a writer’s skill is that he or she has a strong voice. This simply means that the writer has developed a distinctive style of writing that is easily recognized by readers. Particularly in American culture, it is considered a compliment for a writer to have a strong voice.
At the simplest terms, a strong voice implies that if someone picked up a book by an author, that person would recognize the author by style or voice alone. In other words, if one read a random passage by Ernest Hemingway, that passage would share characteristics with other writings by Hemingway, and would be distinctly different from works by John Steinbeck or F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Today, more and more writers vary their voice to match the narrator of the story. Even when an author assumes a distinct character’s voice, it is common for each author to develop a certain style over the course of his or her career.
Although voice is difficult to define, much in the way that personality is difficult to define, the elements that make up voice are much easier to grasp. Let's look at a few of these elements:
1. Diction: This simply refers to the words a writer chooses to use. Are the words simple or difficult? Is the language formal or informal? What are the connotations of the words used? Are the words from a particular region of a country?
2. Syntax: This refers to the way the writer arranges words. Syntax is all about structure, order, placement, and groupings. Pay attention to how many words comprise the average sentence. How is punctuation used? Notice language patterns and repetition. Are the verbs active or passive? Consider the rhythm and cadence.
3. Tone: This refers to the writer’s ability to create an attitude toward the subject, characters, or events in the story. When reading, try to identify the words the writer uses to create a specific mood, attitude or tone. Sometimes one can recognize the themes in a story by examining the tone of the writer's voice. As one studies the craft of fiction-writing, it is beneficial to pay attention to these details.
4. Dialogue: This refers to the actual speech that takes place between characters. The dialogue a writer uses reveals a lot about each character, including the education and background of the character, his or her motivations, and what each character ultimately believes about the world. When reading passages of dialogue, consider how the characters' statements reflect or accentuate the writer's voice.
To learn more about the writer’s voice, consider reading Finding Your Writer's Voice: A Guide to Creative Fiction by Thaisa Frank and Dorothy Wall.
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