Develop your voice in writing by saying things as Clearly, precisely, and vividly as you can. Use a rich vocabulary. This is also important in developing a character's voice. This requires an imaginative leap into the mind of another person.Developing a character's voice is a good way to create more believable characters.
Some vocabulary words for voice development:
Persona- the version of yourself that you reveal when you write
Irony-saying one thing but meaning another
Point of View- 1St person telling a Story from your perspective. 2nd person involves directly addressing the reader as part of your Story. 3rd person is told from the narrator's perspective. 1St and 3rd are most Common.
Distance between the author and reader is determined by word choices, from the formal language involving full names and titles to the informal 2nd person address.
Try This:
3.1
Pick 3 of these words and write an image in words of a person who fits each of them. (Stuck-up, snobbish, arrogant, haughty imperious)
Pick one of the following words and list as many synonyms for it as you can, (awesome, shabby, weird, far, smart, red) Then pick 3 of those synonyms and produce a word image to express each. How do the images differ?
Pick 3 of these words and write an image in words of a person who fits each of them. (Stuck-up, snobbish, arrogant, haughty imperious)
Pick one of the following words and list as many synonyms for it as you can, (awesome, shabby, weird, far, smart, red) Then pick 3 of those synonyms and produce a word image to express each. How do the images differ?
3.2
Imagine (remember?) that you have borrowed ( "borrowed") a car and been involved in a fender bender. write an explanation for the police report. write a monologue explaining the accident to the car's owner. write a letter telling about it to a friend who thinks you're Super Cool.
Imagine (remember?) that you have borrowed ( "borrowed") a car and been involved in a fender bender. write an explanation for the police report. write a monologue explaining the accident to the car's owner. write a letter telling about it to a friend who thinks you're Super Cool.
3.3
Pick a story from today's newspaper about an outrageous or terrible event. write a paragraph about it in the tone of an official who considers it politically necessary (3.3.1) a Sunday School teacher explaining it as God's will (3.3-2), or a social scientist analyzing it for current trends (3.3.3). write a paragraph about a trivial matter (ie- dividing a cootie, breaking a fingernail) in a tone of outrage.
Pick a story from today's newspaper about an outrageous or terrible event. write a paragraph about it in the tone of an official who considers it politically necessary (3.3.1) a Sunday School teacher explaining it as God's will (3.3-2), or a social scientist analyzing it for current trends (3.3.3). write a paragraph about a trivial matter (ie- dividing a cootie, breaking a fingernail) in a tone of outrage.
3.4
write a Short character Sketch of someone in your family, Write a monologue in which that person tells you an anecdote from their childhood.
write a Short character Sketch of someone in your family, Write a monologue in which that person tells you an anecdote from their childhood.
3.5
Go back to your character from 2.4. find a few more details to describe that Character. Then pick a trigger line from those below and use them to start a monologue in that character's voice.
Go back to your character from 2.4. find a few more details to describe that Character. Then pick a trigger line from those below and use them to start a monologue in that character's voice.
1. I don't normally dress this way but...
2. I had a dream last night...
3. I'll tell you what doesn't make any Sense...
4. I'm sorry, I didn't see you...
5. what I need is some kind of work that...
6. I remember when you could...
2. I had a dream last night...
3. I'll tell you what doesn't make any Sense...
4. I'm sorry, I didn't see you...
5. what I need is some kind of work that...
6. I remember when you could...
3.6
write about a situation in which you were badly stressed.
1. write about it in the 1st person from the point of view of Someone else who was present,
2. write in 2nd person, trying to mate the reader identify and "become you."
write about a situation in which you were badly stressed.
1. write about it in the 1st person from the point of view of Someone else who was present,
2. write in 2nd person, trying to mate the reader identify and "become you."
3.7
Take any passage you have written in 1st person and rewrite it in 3rd person observer.
Take any passage you have written in 1st person and rewrite it in 3rd person observer.
3.8
write a Speech in which a character strings cliches or jargon together. Let this characterize them. Mate sore you can still sympathize with them.
write a Speech in which a character strings cliches or jargon together. Let this characterize them. Mate sore you can still sympathize with them.
3.9
write a poem or a few paragraphs in 1st person about what you hate about your body. What tone will you choose? laughing at yourself, grieving, wry, angry, etc?
write a poem or a few paragraphs in 1st person about what you hate about your body. What tone will you choose? laughing at yourself, grieving, wry, angry, etc?
3.10
write a "Modest proposal" on an issue thatyou really care about and "solve" it with a solution drastically worse than the problem in the form of a letter to the editor.
write a "Modest proposal" on an issue thatyou really care about and "solve" it with a solution drastically worse than the problem in the form of a letter to the editor.
3.11
Identify a"social problem" that you don't think is actually a problem, write 2 pages, or 600 words, arguing your point. Bonus points for comedy.
Identify a"social problem" that you don't think is actually a problem, write 2 pages, or 600 words, arguing your point. Bonus points for comedy.
3.12
Pick a story from your life and retell it in the Voice of 1) a cowboy, 2) a cop, 3) a cultured bibliophile, 4) a preacher
Pick a story from your life and retell it in the Voice of 1) a cowboy, 2) a cop, 3) a cultured bibliophile, 4) a preacher
3.13
write from the point of view of anything not human- an insect, an android, a potato, a belly button, whatever. Try to invent and develop a diction that represents the frame of reference. Example: if you are writing from the POV of a shoe, it's likely to have an extensive knowledge of and opinions about flooring but a limited concept of the Sky or human heads.
write from the point of view of anything not human- an insect, an android, a potato, a belly button, whatever. Try to invent and develop a diction that represents the frame of reference. Example: if you are writing from the POV of a shoe, it's likely to have an extensive knowledge of and opinions about flooring but a limited concept of the Sky or human heads.
3.14
write a poem about a movie, cartoon, or pop song. In the persona of the poet make a different point that the original.
write a poem about a movie, cartoon, or pop song. In the persona of the poet make a different point that the original.
3.15
An ode is a serious An ode is a serious meditative lyric poem that treats a noble subject in a dignified manner. write an oduto something hip, pop, trivial, or trashy that you really love.
An ode is a serious An ode is a serious meditative lyric poem that treats a noble subject in a dignified manner. write an oduto something hip, pop, trivial, or trashy that you really love.
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