Writer's voice

The writer's voice is the individual writing style of an author, a combination of their common usage of syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc., within a given body of text (or across several works). Voice can be thought of in terms of the uniqueness of a vocal voice machine. As a trumpet has a different voice than a tuba or a violin has a different voice than a viola, so the words of one author have a different sound than the words of another. One author may have a voice that is light and fast paced while another may have a dark voice.

In creative writing, students are often encouraged to experiment with different literary styles and techniques in order to help them better develop their "voice". This aspect varies with the individual author, but having this asset is considered positive and beneficial to both the writer and his or her audience.

In composition-rhetoric, there is a rich history of debate about the concept of voice in writing. Peter Elbow is one scholar well known for his work in this area, and his article "Voice in Writing Again: Embracing Contraries" offers a nice snapshot of the current state of the discussion.

See also

• Literary technique
• Literary element
• Speechwriter
• Writing style
• Writer's block

External links

• Writer’s Voice: What it is and how to develop yours
• Listening to Voice
• Do you hear what I hear?