How to Create a Strong Character Voice | Writing Tips

When you want it to sound voicey, but not like you're trying too hard to make it sound voicey, yanno?
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[@BittersweetBoys]

I got so distracted because while talking about sailors and nautical similes you said “this isn’t something you have to go overboard with” and I chuckled. Insert an I see what you did there meme.

[@ShaelinWrites]

I am SO glad my pun is getting the appreciation it deserves

[@mikelounge4325]

@@ShaelinWrites So we should reel in the amount of unreasonable similies and analogies so as not to flood our stories in redundancy and wreck it?

[@loveclaire21]

I was just going to comment this haha

[@CassTeaElle]

I literally just paused the video to come comment this. Haha I was instantly distracted

[@ElijahStormblessed]

@@ShaelinWrites all your casual puns are the BEST

[@asaholcombe3595]

This is one of those rare videos to save and refer back to.

[@katiesay4466]

so tru

[@alannothnagle]

Excellent video. I'm impressed at the depth of your knowledge on this topic! I particularly benefited from the question of why a narrator is telling a story in the first place. Very helpful.

[@ShaelinWrites]

Thank you! I am a total geek about voice haha

[@shannonmarie9441]

I am so embarrassed at the fact that I literally squeal with joy every time you upload

[@ShaelinWrites]

Don't be embarrassed that's adorable

[@AnkurTheATHLETE]

Nah its not, unless you are a guy. Oh wait.

[@emmamcdonald7383]

Sailor similes aren't something to go "overboard" with. :) :P Seriously though, I really struggle with consciously creating voice and this has really helped, even more than your original voice video. Thanks for all of your content. I love it all and it really helps.

[@ShaelinWrites]

haha you caught my unintended pun

[@tarahillen877]

All of these Shaelin videos are spoiling me! This is packed with so much information that I never knew or considered. You're knowledge on the subject is impressive and so, so helpful.

[@anicealien]

*your You're is short for you are. Sorry, grammatical errors bug me.

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@briandoeslife7182]

@@triviahaven2853 Get out of here bot

[@spiralsun1]

OMG YES. ❤️👍🏻

[@great-wall-of-nowhere9377]

Fuuuuuck me, this is a lot to take in

[@carsonleeharper165]

I’m currently editing my novel, which you can see on my own channel in editing vlogs if you want to check my editing vlogs out, but I’m noticing that subconsciously almost all of my characters have strong linguistic patterns to their speech. I’m going through and strengthening those, but I can tell who is speaking now in the novel, even if the dialogue is removed from the narrative!

[@BooksNChili]

Those questions of why the character is sharing their story, and when and how, those are such good questions I've never thought of. Thank you!!

[@lowercase_ash]

Head canon: the Percy Jackson books are told to Percy's students when he finally settles down and becomes a professor on the lookout for half-bloods

[@lexuhbee]

OMG I was just working on my novel and wonderingly distraughtly “how can I make this character voice stronger?” Shaelin, you are a lifesaver.

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@yuuri9064]

I like you so much that I didn't skip the ad

[@ClintLoweTube]

Mini Williams That's when you know you have it made. Haha. Good1.

[@RashmikaLikesBooks]

Same! Shaelin is amazing and should earn at least a little from the great guidance she gives.

[@RoxzRay]

I know this is an old video but oh wow! I think your videos are the most helpful on authortube! You really dive in depth in a way no others do! I have to say also, I'm so happy to have found this video because I'm writing my novel in 1st person perspective and have shown a couple of excerpts to friends who like to read. And well... some of their advice surprised me. Some of it I can totally understand, like you, I go on tangents haha, and that became a bit too ott in the story's narrative AND dialogue, also at times repetitive. They were dead right there. So I'm thankful they pointed that out. However, two comments I got, honestly didn't sit right, no matter how much i considered them. The first being that a 15 year old wouldn't write that well... different 15 year olds have different abilities... (also, i don't think it was that ott by any means, given that she is by nature, a creative and artistic person) also, in the same vain - 'why are there some beautiful phrases and then swearing (occasional) and slang?' Well, people aren't one dimensional and different scenes call for different reactions, esp. from a young person imo. The second, i was basically advised to 'throw the nature similes and metaphors out the window, it's better to get straight to the point'. I sometimes used similes/metaphors to show her personality and perspective (which I'm now realising is character voice!) she loves nature, mum was a hippie, so to me it totally made sense for her to use flowers and animal analogies for example. Anyway, your video has made me have more faith in my writing. Although I got some genuine helpful advice, I feel like some of it was non-constructive and sucked the personality out of the voice. My friends also said 'I prefer the writing to be as straight forward as possible (telling?). Idk how i feel about that tbh. I'm not a fan of super basic story telling, it bores me. So it may be a preference thing though, I get that.

[@sethwandling1009]

I feel like you would make the best dungeon master for d&d lmao

[@ShaelinWrites]

I've never played but I really want to try??? seems so cool???

[@sethwandling1009]

ShaelinWrites it can definitely be cool in the nerdiest way possible but a bad dm can make it turn cringy in a HURRY

[@sanghelian]

ShaelinWrites well im trying to get into dungeonmastering mainly to become more confident storyteller. Kind of cumbersome at first but seems good practice

[@jaxrobinson3890]

@@sethwandling1009 She would be a great DM. I went the other way, coming into writing to make my DMing better, and ended up working on a novel. They both go really well together, and in my experience, the good writers make the best DMs. Matt Coville is a great example of that. @ShaelinWrites You should definitely try it, especially with any writer/actor friends you have. There are some epic stories to be told when cooperating with other creatives within the D&D framework; the best part is, you'll never know where they're going either, even if you're the Dungeon Master!

[@elisa4620]

Or a "bad" crew...

[@dear_totheheart]

Always so insightful! Really enjoyed your exploration of literary patterns, tone, and themes throughout, plus the idea of framing, including the narrator and how the character relates - these are fantastic to keep in mind and to add more creativity to our work!

[@victoriannecastle]

Redundant words and filters is okay if it's in dialogue. It's really simple. Different characters will result in different narrative for the same setting. An optimist in the beach can describe the ocean as being pure blue and clear sky while a pessimist will describe the ocean as too black and too deep. The map out words are helpful, Shae. Always love this kind of videos about prose. You should keep making more videos about the subject. For instance, who is your favorite author and what you like about her/his writing style.

[@barchetta575m]

Personally I would avoid redundant words and filters in dialogue. Like Shae said, use patterning to create character voice and dialogue--what a character says and how they say it. You want your dialogue to be very tight and to the bone. Good dialogue reveals backstory, character development, and is subtle. I would never waste dialogue with redundant words. It's a mistake many amateur writers make and even good writers, resulting in weak dialogue.

[@izzie9526]

YES! character voice is a great story element. In my current short story, it is being narrated by an older version of the protagonist (she is 16 in 1979 when the story is happening, but she's narrating when she's like 50-60).

[@onepandella5702]

One problem I have with my WIP is that my main character is very judgmental to herself. Its told in third person, and I worry that whenever I write about her thinking she hates herself, it comes off as the narrator being too opinionated, when she's the narrator. I hope that made sense. Any advice?

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@LotharLive]

This was so much I never even thought about. I quite enjoy your content, good thing I discovered you just when you came back to KZbin :)

[@adriang6259]

(6:06 'it's going to be ridiculous if every single simile is related to nautical themed things-- "This isn't something you have to overboard with" ha ha) Maybe the assassin was apprenticed to a monk that tested him constantly on flowers.... so he killed the monk. Have you got a video about cadence? Sometimes I write and think the sentence needs another word or two because I read it back with a certain beat to it. This was an awkward video to watch because the top of your head was cut off.

[@kaylastarr3822]

I've tried writing a short story from the perspective of an eleven year old, but I think I overdid it because it seems really oversimplified.

[@estelletheartkid1984]

I’m currently 13-14, and I know for a fact that eleven year old are a lot more complex than people make them out to be. I remember being 11 fairly well, and it was pretty frustrating how people would underestimate me.

[@amandarandomtube4793]

I have trouble naming characters until I get to know them so I name them something to do with their character. Like "hippy" "artist" etc. and it actually helps me do what you just explained. I automatically am thinking about what I'm writing from the perspective of a hippy or artist because I associate the word with them as a person from the beginning. It's like a double writting hack, no "name block" keeping me from starting and it gives me a headstart on character.

[@cwfcwfcwf]

You could teach this in college or high school. :)

[@Rose-dx4li]

I was JUST craving a video by you, perfect timing!

[@kayhaych05]

Anyone else really enjoy Shaelin with her hair up? She looks adorable. I swear I’m paying attention to what she’s saying

[@sanaamin5651]

The one thing I love about this channel and Reedsy is that Shaelin makes sure all her tips are tried and tested. She even holds herself accountable if they dont workout and privates videos in which the tips weren’t helpful. ♥️ You are a geniune help unlike most Authortubers who are just in it for their brand.

[@viamacnab8435]

Thank you so much, this is very very helpful! I will definetly use this in my writing. Quick question: if I'm writing a book series, would you say that changing person or tense between books is a no go? I want to write the first book in first person past, but I really want the third one to be in third person past, and the fourth in third person present, but idk if this will alienate the reader? Would you say I can change tense but not person instead? Idk. I'd love it if you could advise me, your so good at this! Love you 💖

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@cjpreach]

Loads of content is this one. Great stuff. While listening, I thought of examples from my own writing (no 3rd Omniscient, I confess). I'll refer to this vid several times, for sure.

[@paulachapman5722]

Nautical...overboard. Lol

[@nickreyes6718]

Idk if youve mentioned it lately but how's the fantasy series going?

[@aasiakiss2467]

This is amazing! thank you for all your great advice you really helped me improve my stories A LOT! ily keep up the good work : )

[@ShaelinWrites]

Thank you, I'm glad it helped!

[@zigaudrey]

Character Voice is like describing his/her thinking, believe, fear, backstory and personality. Some would take further and turn a voice into text. Eg: a baby babbling so the narration babble than expressing through the word babbling. I would love character-focused text.

[@thewingedserpent5823]

i like the example with the sailor and going overboard with pattern

[@Henbot]

Great video, it is interesting when you hear what creatives have done with this element. Akira Kurosawa was a very famous film director and well respected a 'character voice' element he always did was he would have the actors create a mannerism/gesture for their character that they had to stick without for the whole film. Another interesting Character Voice was with RDR2, in which Arthur to others and externally seems low educated and ruff but when you read his diary it is very witty, reflect, sharp and articulate with great art skill, but others don't think he is intelligent or witty because he expresses it in his book.

[@mymessynotebook2207]

I think you would be a very good English teacher!

[@jamesblackwell5120]

This video was great, but I'm kinda surprised that you used birds as your example of patterning when you don't really know much about them. I would've thought you'd've used something you're an expert in, like tapestries.

[@ShaelinWrites]

oh. my. GOD.

[@ginge641]

It's like you want to die.

[@jamesblackwell5120]

I'm not worried, there's like a whole ocean between us. Unless she ever plans to come to the UK I'm pretty safe.

[@ginge641]

James Blackwell You think an ocean will stop her? Might want to consider a trip to the middle east. You'll probably be safer there.

[@jamesblackwell5120]

If she manages to cross the ocean then I'll just throw tapestries at her, she'll be so distracted by them that I can get away

[@edenmckinley3472]

Now I really want a rugged bad@ss assassin character whose secret passion is botany. Maybe whenever they kill someone, they leave a flower hidden at the crime scene, and each flower is a reflection of the mood they were in when they killed the person or their relation to the victim or something about this job that made it unique. And the antagonist could be someone who is solving all these murders and collecting the flowers as they go. See, for those of you who don't know, this is where story ideas come from.

[@davidallsopp4030]

On the topic of suspending our disbelief when a character's voice sounds a lot more authorial/literary than we'd expect, I'd just like to say that I found Scout in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' to be quite jarring at times - just with her observations that I thought to be way above and beyond her age level. I'd be interested to know if anyone else felt that too or has had any other similar experiences!

[@stuartforbes]

OVERBOARD!!!

[@opalstarling9164]

YEET YOU UPLOADED! I ALWAYS SCREECH!

[@ngtskynebula]

Extremely helpful. Thanks, Shaelin! ❤

[@henrikdahlstrom9856]

Don't go overboard with nautical similies :)

[@zxc1972]

The Curious Incident Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon, came to mind.

[@The_LegoFlyingPig]

Omg yes that book was amazing!

[@kharagillock8467]

What if your character just so happens to be a setting like literally?

[@kharagillock8467]

I have no idea what i meant he ignore me

[@Z-Rollz]

Don't go overboard with the Sailor metaphors? what a deft pun

[@maxjing61]

Doesn't it make the badass villain a more interesting character if he actually knows the name of every flower out there?

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

6:05: I wonder if the "go overboard with" metaphor was intentional 😀

[@lukasnovella9001]

Lol nice video. That moment when your “Lighthearted” story still has child abuse. Then again, in the story before that the main character’s stomach exploded sooooooooooo

[@Nyndacricy]

My character is an actress (No I didn't just decide to write a story about a celeb. The plot requires her to be that. Cliches be damned.). This gives her a voice closer to my own. Shaelin's videos are awesome.

[@thedoover6520]

I appreciate all the work you do to help us write. Thank you very much 🥰

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@cambriadaW]

Thanks so much for this video!!!! It’s soo helpful😅 (Also really awesome to think about how many things you can do with narration to add to your story)

[@meryoue9933]

I am sooo happy and excited that you're back ❤

[@BrianaMorganBooks]

Love this video! Super helpful, thank you! :)

[@spiralsun1]

Wow, I would trust you to read my writing and comment more than anyone else. If you knew me, you would know what a compliment that was. 🥰 I definitely could use that. I have problems finishing projects like a science fiction book that I am writing with a producer out here from the movie industry. My background is in physics and evolutionary psychology and neuroscience not writing. Plus I am introverted. AF. The most successful thing I have written was a plea to let transgender people run the Boston Marathon. It was so successful that it changed peoples minds and then they asked what I thought the fair policy should be and I had already written it out because I think about everything: now it has been adopted by all the world marathon majors. So maybe it wasn’t a book. But I do have pen power... They say that you cannot change peoples minds by arguing online. I don’t argue, I change peoples perceptions about reality. Make them draw a circle around a larger world. We are creators after all. Thank you ❤️👍🏻

[@crocoshark4097]

Scientifically speaking, bats are not related to birds. I know I'm coming off pedantic, I just wanted to clarify. lol

[@ShaelinWrites]

The point was to shift to related imagery (bats and birds have an overlap in terms of image), not something that is scientifically related :)

[@crocoshark4097]

@@ShaelinWrites Hi there, your videos are great, BTW!

[@shoukatranaranashoukat7227]

your talking style is attractive

[@selispeks]

You're so sweet and adorable. I wish we could hang out and write a short story together, that would be SO COOL!

[@josefinasotes796]

I read pinned comments :,(

[@ShaelinWrites]

You're doing the lords work!!

[@josefinasotes796]

@@ShaelinWrites HAHAHA

[@lawrencehan463]

How are there no likes on this video?

[@KreativeHogwartsLegacyGUIDES]

I don't want to use patterns about sailing since I know little about sailing and I don't want to rock the boat. Sometimes people get offended if the patterns make me sound like an amateur.

[@CarlosHernandez-jv6wk]

Okay, so I was having trouble understanding what you meant in the bird section starting at 6:13 . After watching that segment, my guess is that you were saying that if you spoke from the point-of-view of a bird enthusiast or someone similar, and the character communicates using bird-like terminology, but you wanted to expand their vocabulary so you recommend bird-adjacent terminology when you said to think further away when you brought up bats. The first time around, I thought you meant the character was a literal bird and I thought you meant your list of words were replacements (talons instead of feet) and bringing up bats and planes threw me off. Is the interpretation from my second viewing what you meant, or am I missing something?

[@writegoodbookschannel1134]

Great video. I feel like this is a big problem especially in YA. People trying too hard to sound "voicey". Thanks!

[@devinkourunk4371]

Okay once again filter the subtext and focus focus filter... Alright back to sleep.

[@shoukatranaranashoukat7227]

you are so beautiful🥰

[@OceanChild87]

An assassin who does some gardening for relaxation and thus knows a lot about flowers does sound like an interesting character trait to me though xD or perhaps his mother was a gardener and that's the fond memories of his childhood he has and kept it in his mind .. so many possibilities ^^ Excellent video! Thank you so much for sharing this

[@stendaalcartography3436]

can't help but notice how nice your skin is! do you moisturize? lol. thanks for the video, Shaelin.

[@rajashekharnarayan4717]

Interesting 🤔😛👍🙏

[@isadoreanabelle3449]

Long live Queen Shaelin!!

[@candellina6]

You look so beautiful with your hair up like that, Shaelin! I know that was random, but worth saying.

[@mohasinmia8702]

The content of the video is excellent. But the presenter is much more excellent in the way of presentation. Aswsomeee... Lovely..

[@santanasg8445]

Excellent video! So many amazing tips! It’s been my constant fear ( and something I work hard on ) that my writing voice might not sound different than my specific characters voice! So I’m always trying and testing ways to improve my craft :)

[@jasongretencord3326]

Thank you, Shaelin. My first novel has 4 protagonists in first person, and I'll bear your advice in mind.

[@therealfirelord3359]

This is jam-packed with great information and I love it. So eye-opening. Thanks for sharing.

[@ClintLoweTube]

A bad ass assassin might like a flower. That movie The Professional with the assassin waters a plant onnhis windowsill at the start.

[@webshowMUFFIN]

oh damn. I definitely have some stories where i sacrifice my prose for the sake of voice. I felt my character was the type of person to just ramble on and use filler words so I allowed myself to do the same. I might just go back and edit some of them for the sake of learning how to do it better. Thanks for the advice!

[@Dayglodaydreams]

Yes! It is short!

[@almire]

I really liked your video on how to name a character because I knew what character I wanted, but It didn't take any solid form (because I didn't know what to call her which left out a huge part of her identity)

[@hatezis]

"sailor..." " you don't have to go overboard with" I see what you did there

[@alanadi_angelo367]

I wanted to watch this video but I also want to watch a few other Shaelin videos but I don’t wanna wait so I’m just going to try to wait.

[@gristlevonraben]

You would be a great creative writing professor.

[@keegster7167]

I just want to say that the lighting is too bright. There's not much contrast.

[@trina7012]

Those are some really cool ideas, thank you so much for sharing

[@chrisbonnett6783]

The reader will notice an illiterate character who speaks like an English major writes. I have to fight my editor over "bad grammar" but people think and talk this way. It makes the character who they are. Complex characters are complex and the reader discovers this over time. The white hat is never perfectly clean. The black hat is never that black.

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@hastytkd5768]

Listening to all your vids while I write.

[@ClintLoweTube]

Great advice again. Need to watch multiple times for it to sink in. Just like doing multiple drafts.

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@gregorydefeo7369]

Imagine if The Confessions had been written by St. Augustine as a fictional narrative. No different?

[@gregorydefeo7369]

@@triviahaven2853 thanks, but it has nothing to say about my year old comment.

[@efosaagbonson1581]

What is a weak word and a strong word?.....Words are words.

[@ShaelinWrites]

Words that are nonspecific or extraneous, such as really, very, something, etc.

[@efosaagbonson1581]

@@ShaelinWrites Yeah please could you please "critique" my first ever completed blog short story. onedayinthelibrary.blogspot.com Titled....Rosa Black. Thank you. Kind Regards, Efosa Osakue Agbonson.

[@Marie_Garwood]

Ugh, this video is so helpful! Thank you so much!

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@rajashekharnarayan4717]

Nice Narrative Skills 😊👍

[@GBrown-ql6qn]

Would you say character voice is something to focus on more in later drafts? I'm still just starting my first draft and worrying about my narration having a distinctive voice for each POV.

[@ShaelinWrites]

I think it's good to consider before/while drafting, but it's always something you can change and refine in editing.

[@triviahaven2853]

If you are a struggling writer, UPLIFT WRITER: FOOD FOR YOUR WRITING SOUL ebook is for you. www.amazon.com/dp/B07LH6KNHY

[@MadailinBurnhope]

"once I had a character with a violence pattern... she was a lot"

[@MadailinBurnhope]

my main character is obsessed with birds so that advice was useful

[@AK-rx8gp]

thought u had airpods

[@chihiro8166]

Thank you! That was great 😍

[@chloemarie5173]

I don't even want to be an author anymore lol why do I still love these videos?

[@ClintLoweTube]

Chloe Marie We all love stories and people and stories about people.

[@princesscake70]

Awesome video on voice!

[@MrQwefty]

Similes are like a river:

[@siobhanm9690]

i love ur eyebrows

[@lillymaiglock2525]

Your skin is glowing!!!

[@katiesay4466]

This is so helpful!!

[@aa4rt839]

exactly what i needed