Distinct voice?

[c37]

How do you write a distinct voice for each character? Even though I decided on a few things about my characters, it is confusing when implementing. I would appreciate it if the authors here could help me.

 

[NotProudofmySmut]

1. Create a catalogue of personal questions.
2. Try answering them as the character.
3.
4. Profit

 

[CountVanBadger]

First you have to make sure your characters are individually distinct enough that their inner thoughts are unique too. They need their own beliefs, opinions, likes and dislikes, and way of approaching and solving problems. If your whole cast is just the same person calling themselves by a dozen different names, then of course none of them are going to have a distinct voice. Really get into your characters' heads, figure out how their brains work, and then write accordingly.

 

[Eldoria]

Design your characters as living characters before narrating them. Every character 'ideally' has a bio: name, appearance, distinctive physical attributes, personality, speaking style, beliefs, dislikes/traumas, age, gender, family background, and relationships.

The writer's job is to narrate the characterization in a living narrative through symbolism, action, monologue/dialogue, visualization, and atmosphere within the story.

Let your characters interact with their world organically to show who they are.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Start by giving each character some unique quirk or catch phrase and build out from there. For example, I have a character who frequently replies "aww!" and calls people "dear heart" - especially but not entirely her boyfriend (who is the only other character who ever uses that phrase in the story, and only to her).
Another may stutter or include "ah," or "erm," a lot. Another is always sarcastic if they speak in more than three or four words at a time.

 

[Kay_Ship]

I am assuming you mean actually speaking. Pick a single or multiple factors and be consistent.

Tone: Is the voice deep, nasally, squeaky, clear, etc.?
Cadence: Do they talk fast, slow, hesitatingly, boldly, rambling, etc.?
Content: Do they have odd expressions, swear a lot, snark/sarcasm, etc.?

These are a few things that you can isolate and repeat through the story. You can also use it to show how people put on a "public face" by introducing inner thoughts/emotions that contradict what they show people. Just like real people, characters can say things they don't feel because of external factors.

 

[worksbyindigo]

I'm no master of this by all means, but I did a few practices on this on my spare time. I agree with the other replies, a decently fleshed out profile of the character helps because it gives you a baseline on how they view the world (different preferences, backgrounds, etc.). Now that you have an idea of what they could possibly like/dislike, how they view the world, what they do for a living, etc. you'll have an idea how they talk.

For example, among the few characters I've tried practicing on, the permanently clocked-out, tired minimum wage worker talks in shorter sentences and is more likely to casually swear. In contrast, another character who lives for art and aesthetics talks in long, flowery descriptions of things that take his interest (or things that spark his disdain because they're so ugly lol).

 

[TheNonexistentOne]

How do you write a distinct voice for each character? Even though I decided on a few things about my characters, it is confusing when implementing. I would appreciate it if the authors here could help me.

Inner monologue works well for me. It shows their beliefs and instantaneous thoughts. Also... Showing mood swings when encountering the loved or hated character works too.