Episode 014: How to Write Distinctive Character Voice
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- One of your greatest fears as a writer: that all your characters' voices will end up sounding EXACTLY THE SAME. How do you avoid this? How do you "slip into" a new voice for each character, a distinctive voice that STANDS OUT - not just in your story, but in the world of stories already out there. That's the topic authors Kate and Abbie tackle in this podcast. Drawing on years of experience and millions of words written, Kate and Abbie share their favorite tips for writing unique character voice and crafting a story that your readers won't soon forget.
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Connect with Kate on Instagram (@lonehawkwriter) or her blog: www.heretocrea...
Connect with Abbie on Instagram (@makeyourstorymatter) or her blog: www.abbiee.com/
This is why Jane Austin is such an amazing writer she managed to make every character in her book have such a distinct voice that it could eve be considered a completely separate voice to her own.
Damn woman. You certainly use "like" A LOT in your speech. That was a huge turnoff in watching this video for me.
@@former_dmcrt8614 I'm a dude... Also I'm not Abbie Emmons... I actually promised never to contact her again because I put her on the back cover of my book "Scanorob" but that was pretty creepy instead of funny so yeah. Promised I would leave her alone.
I have to agree with you. Every single character Jane wrote in Pride and Prejudice sounds pretty distinct. I like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth´s scheme. It´s a pretty good back and fouth between diferent personalities.
Do the video idea where you write in comic sans for 30 days to see how it affects your writing! That would be a fun video to make! Thank you for the writing tips for character voice! They were super helpful! Keep up the amazing work! Stay awesome!
You know, I am digging that idea too!! Thanks so much for listening! 💛🙏
I have a character that’s secretly sending letters to their father, betraying their friends, so I write their POV in 1st person and in the second draft change everything back to their name but as I wrote it originally as I he has a distinctive voice. I also colour my fonts slightly between POVs for that extra vibe.
The comic sans trick works!! I didn't even believe it but tried it and I wrote over 50,000 words in like a month! It's amazing!!
I learned all my basic character voice skills writing fanfiction... It is a great start point, specially when you're younger
A few anecdotes from the comic book world:
In Batman Year One, it has 2 perspectives that narrate, Batman and Jim Gordon.
Batman's narration squares are in a typewriter style font on white and Jim Gordon's is handwritten on a lined background. It tells a lot about both characters.
The Font "Comic Sans MS" was based on the comic Watchmen, one of the most serious superhero comics.
Love the ampersand reference to (I'm begging the universe) "A Bit of Fry & Laurie"
I've heard that reading Jane Austen is a master class in character voice, because all her characters (even the minor ones) have their own distinctive talking styles.
I also read a book once where the main character spent a lot of time (not just in dialogue, but in her head) talking about her dad who had disappeared. That worked well because she admired her dad a lot, and she wanted to find him, so it made sense for her to bring up lots of stories about him that revealed something about what she admired in him.
I'm so taking the character voice sheets idea, and the different fonts, and maybe even the idea of writing in comic sans.
I absolutely go with character playlist! It works SO WELL with me! Thanks ladies loved that episode!
Yes!
Please!
The psychology of writing in different fonts sounds fun and intriguing!
Absolutely love the show
Each time I find a new cache of writing advise, I'm usually like 'Oh, they're just going to go over the same stuff with different flavor text', but sometimes I find stuff no one else is really talking about.
This and 'Narrative Distance' is something I rarely hear discussed among writers on yt XD
Oh heck- you brought up Winnie the Pooh. My feels. The end of the house at pooh corner wrecked me when I read it to my son. I sobbed! Never noticed when I was a child.
You both are marvelous: One is an accurate good comunicator, the other is empathetic and emotional. ¡Well done sisters! I'm in love.. You made it! :D
I always worry about this. Glad you're covering the topic.
OMG!! I needed that font tip (and the music tip and the personality type tip and the......)
One thing I need to ask though.
One of my MCs is a tree. (sue me) So how would this character make decisions and do other things if she can't PHYSICALLY go anywhere? (Mentally is a whole other thing) With Abie's three-act story structure template, I'm having some trouble with this character.
*My inner voice*: Of course SOmaya... you are writing about a fictional TREE story for crying out loud
Anyways...Thanks! Your videos have really helped me!
Music is a big help!
I listen to instrumentals when I write!! Because words/tv are often distracting. So I have a "writing" playlist going for my current WIP.
I feel like I unconsciously write character voice and kinda realize the differences in personality when I reread it
I've been struggling with character voice. Thank you for this.
Yay, I am so glad you got something out of this episode! 🙏💛Thanks for being here
@@KAEmmons I always check out your videos ❤️
Thanks for the super helpful tips, guys!
Thanks so much for listening! 💛🙏
OMG I love this!!! this is sooo relevant for me!! Thank you both!!
Thanks so so much for answering my question !! 🥰🎉
My main character's MBTI is ISTJ...and I'm an ENTP. So writing his voice has been an adventure. Thanks so much for this!!
Yes! COMIC SANS VIDEO YEYEH *Palpatine voice* DEW IT.... Also, you guys are so fun to listen to. I am not a writer although I used to dabble in it in highschool for fun and am considering writing again for fun after listening to your podcasts and videos, but atm I listen to you while illustrating/designing for clients& doing school projects! It's amazing how much story carries over into other creative industries. Really love hearing both of your opinions on so many topics and how you break down story :) big fan
great video tho so helpful😉😃😁❤❤❤❤❤❤ Oh yeah and the font thing with me too it helps me!!! U guys made me laugh about the comic sans thing LOL!!!! XD yes yes yes make a video of the comic sans plzzzzzzz Also my character in my trilogy is a slave so he sees things in a dark way, but he is sarcastic and cunning despite the fact that his masters freak out about being disrespectful lol.
Awesome podcast thank you!
Thank you both so much for these podcasts! I’ve been listening on Spotify but I thought I’d head over here and watch the video! Loved it!! Maybe you’ve answered this before, but what made you two decide to start a podcast?
Ahhhh, so glad you got a chance to come on over to UA-cam and check out the video version! :) Thanks so much for listening! 💛🙏
Z🤪😖
Hi there, you should definitely do a video like that. Please
Hey, Kate & Abbie. I love the podcast! I'm an up-and-coming author, subscribed to both of your channels. I'm working on my début novel, & I have a question. I'd be grateful if you could answer it: I struggle getting into the 'writing element' & even though I have an ongoing novel that I really want to finish, I'm never motivated enough to sit down & write. When I do sit down & write, no creative juices are flowing. How do I overcome this? (I live with my parents & I'm unable to stick to set writing times.)
Thanks in advance. Much love from the UK!
Check out Abbie’s video “How to instantly get into the writing mood.”
I’ll just watch this and get back.
Can I give an example of "character voice based on where they live"?
Essex
Common phrases: Aite (hello), Baz Vegas (it's a place), Saafend (Southend, but they drop the 'th'), etc. I'm not Essex, correct me if I'm wrong.
Character voice is something I’m just now kinda figuring out but I don’t think they are super consistent yet I start almost every ssntece with the point of view character’s name cause I write mainly 3rd person omniscient
Not feeling good. Breathless. Please check.
Did anyone else thing of sheldon cooper when they was describing the super anilitical character? 😂
Did you ever read Chimanda's books before
I have not heard of it - what's it about? :) Thanks so much for listening! 💛🙏
Summary?
Taugumi don’t play with people’s hearts. He’s a nice guy. Leave him be.
Tsugumi now’s not the time.
Abbie this is not the time to play with other people’s hearts. Be yourself and speak to me and settle things, first.
i wish i never watched this video bc of the blinking thing
Hazel Thayer warning you in advance. Don’t talk to anyone.
I might pin the front use for a later wip. I'll sometimes listen to music to set the mood of the fic I am writing.