How do I give my characters different voices?
I'm writing (in first person) from both perspectives and sometimes I just feel like there might not be enough "individuality" in my characters even though I really try to "make" them think and act in a way that fits and identifies them. Plus, I figured I could tell the difference if I read my work, but I'm afraid the readers might not. If you've ever gone through something similar, what made you realise your "gut feeling" was right/wrong?
OP has a great question, and an interesting challenge for any writer. People think, speak, and write differently, and in a first person text with multiple perspective you need to get this right.
Now the top comment doesn't even know what "voice" means in this context:
"You don't need to make your characters sound different, just make sure the text explains who's talking."
This person believes dialect, funny accents, and catchphrases are the only ways that people communicate differently.
OP comes back with a sensible followup question:
This is exactly where a normal person might question whether the protagonists should have such similar ways of thinking, or suggest using their internal monologues to further differentiate the characters, or give ANY of the advice out there about character voice. Is the voice stream of consciousness or more structured? Formal or informal? Sparse or prosy? What kinds of words do they use to describe their surroundings? What is their emotional tone? How does their attitude, mindset, personal history, etc. affect the style of their narrative?
The response they get is... slightly approaching advice about different perspectives, but I'm pretty sure it's also a Kingdom Hearts monologue.
This may help you distinguish who in your story is thinking.
Ok but how does this affect their use of language?
Are you... A professional quote maker?
Thank you for your sweet comment. I donβt know why but it validated me somehow.
Ok but how do they sound
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The bleakest thing of all time
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/r/writing's ideal book
Fin.
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But theyβre also all gay minorities
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I always use scars and eye patches for my villains
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Don't forget the shifty eyes!
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When dealing with novices, there is no good writing advice except for "read a lot, practice and git gud". Even well intentioned tips like "use dialect sparingly and never as a substitute for character" will be misunderstood by novices who will then spread their blunt misunderstanding to other novices.
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