All writers agree they want to find their own unique voice. But—what is this nebulous thing called voice and how does an author develop it? Voice is elusive. One might say it develops itself. One thing we know, voice develops from writing and writing and more writing.
Authorial voice and character voice are closely connected. A writer’s voice is usually embedded in the way a point-of-view character speaks, thinks and most important in his attitude. If the character is a redneck bigot with a large repertoire of hates, his voice should show it. If the character is a college-educated liberal with hippie leanings, his voice should show it. Authors need a strong, unique writing voice. But don’t allow your author’s voice to be so strong and distinctive that all your characters sound alike. Character voices will be unique if the author is intimately acquainted with each one and listens to them speak.
It’s important to understand that early on in a writing career an author’s developing voice already exists in his/her writing. Here’s how to find it: Read your own writing. When you come to a sentence or phrase that feels perfect, you’ve found your natural voice. It may not have reached its fullest potential, but it’s there. Try to determine what you love about that sentence. Don’t try to copy it, just let it sink into your unconscious. It will appear again without planning. Conversely, when you read a sentence or phrase that leaves you cold, it’s not your voice. Try to determine why it seems so flat. Then avoid repetition of it. This two-step process will raise your awareness of what works and what doesn’t and will eventually allow your unique voice to emerge.
Focus on your characters and your story; your voice will come.
Global Mysteries 
Great post, Nancy!
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By: Richard W Scott on July 9, 2010
at 4:36 pm
Thank you. Coming from you, that is a nice compliment indeed.
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By: nancycurteman on July 9, 2010
at 7:54 pm
Your posts are very helpful to me Nancy Curteman. You have a way of being very precise about what you talk about and the distinctions you make are excellent and allow me to ‘understand’, sometimes for the first time. Thank you. (Like the idea that the voice – develops!
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By: Loreen Lee on July 9, 2010
at 6:32 pm
Thank you, Loreen. I’m so glad my posts are helpful. I enjoy writing them and I reinforce my own understanding of the basic concepts I write about as well.
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By: nancycurteman on July 9, 2010
at 7:56 pm
Good points.I am going to reblog this if you don’t mind and also pass it on to my critique group. Thanks. 🙂
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By: deepercolors on July 9, 2010
at 10:15 pm
Thanks for the reblog. I hope writers will find the piece helpful in their efforts to discover their own unique voice.
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By: nancycurteman on July 10, 2010
at 9:04 am
[…] All writers agree they want to find their own unique voice. But—what is this nebulous thing called voice and how does an author develop it? Voice is elusive. One might say it develops itself. One thing we know, voice develops from writing and writing and more writing. Authorial voice and character voice are closely connected. A writer’s voice is usually embedded in the way a point-of-view character speaks, thinks and most important in his attitud … Read More […]
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By: Author’s Voice: How to find it? (via Global Mysteries) « Life as a Writer and Artist on July 9, 2010
at 10:18 pm
Goethe says, Trust yourself and you will know how to live.
Nancy says, Trust yourself and you will know how to write.
Excellent advice!
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By: nrhatch on July 10, 2010
at 9:49 am
Great advice, thanks Nancy!
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By: theonlycin on July 12, 2010
at 9:23 am
Great advice Nancy, thanks for posting it.
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By: Agatha82 on July 25, 2010
at 10:33 am
Thanks for the comment.
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By: nancycurteman on July 25, 2010
at 7:01 pm
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By: Describing Words Can Kill your Mystery Novel « Global Mysteries on January 18, 2011
at 4:28 pm
It’s funny, I started writing in grade 8 and through reading one person’s particular books I began to sound and write like them subconsciously.
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By: Damian on June 4, 2011
at 11:02 pm
I’m curious. Who was the author you began to sound like?
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By: nancycurteman on June 5, 2011
at 3:54 pm