On one of the writer’s loops I’m on, they discussed “voice” as it pertains to fiction. I find the topic educational and intriguing. How does an author create characters that sound like real people and that don’t all sound alike – or just like the author?

I’ve read some books where there is little distinction between the characters. What’s worse is when a series is only different because the names and occupations change, but the “people”, who the characters really are, doesn’t. As a reader, this annoys me and I will stop reading the series because they all start to sound alike.

But as a writer, it is SO easy to do the same thing! I find myself infusing my own “voice” into the voices of my characters. Until recently, I spent little time pondering how each character is unique or asking myself who they might be like in real life. What actor or singer or neighbor or friend is my character most like? What inflections differ in their voices, what are their idiocyncricies?

One of my critique partners has a book coming out in which all of the characters only communicate via email. She didn’t have descriptions to work with. They couldn’t “see” each other through the computer screen, so she spent a lot of time listening to them, trying to hear the way they talked so that she could capture that in each email. She’s done a fantastic job! I can’t wait to read her first book, because her second one is already looking great. :)

Still, I wonder how she did that – how each author comes up with unique qualities for each character. If all of my characters are from similar backgrounds, how do I give them differences that will come through in the way they talk?

One thing I’ve learned is that I need to listen a lot. Only this time, instead of just listening to what people say, actually listen to how they say it. Study voices. Close my eyes to block out all but what I can hear.

Music is another way to hear “voice”. One of Michael W. Smith’s songs gave me the perfect motivation for my hero in my current wip, and I could “hear” my hero’s voice coming through in the words to Michael’s song.

Movies are another good way to study people. Some movies are obviously better than others, but the good ones can be a great study in character. Actors learn to “become” their characters. Authors need to do the same thing.

Lastly, what helps me to “hear” my characters’ voices, are visual images of them. I recently started creating collages to give me the visual aid I need as I write the book. Great resource tool!

Whatever tools are necessary, an author should use them to help her get the feel for each character. I used to think, “Just write the book”. But now I believe all of these pre-writing exercises can be most beneficial. Then when I sit down to write a scene, I better know how to write it based on how my character would react.

One thing is certain. Writing is a craft that takes years to master. And even the masters never stop learning.