What is Voice in Writing?
The tone and mood conveyed through the writing
When a publisher told me to define my voice, I released a piercing scream of frustration in my head. Voice!? What does she mean? Words on the paper do not make a sound. Sometime later, I acknowledge the inaccuracy of this belief.
I thought maybe this publisher knew something I needed to learn so I researched how to develop a voice in writing. It is the style of the writing that conveys emotions, pulls the reader through words exposing feelings.
“Voice is the single most important element in writing. . . . Voice separates writing that is not read from writing that is read.” — Donald Murray
Identify the purpose
Depending upon the purpose for the writing, the voice changes to satisfy the goal. To understand how voices changes the presentation, read the examples below. The first is the original children’s poem of Jack and Jill. The following examples show how the same information is conveyed to audiences for a different purpose.
Original nursery rhyme for children
Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after.
News reports answer questions
Modern day journalists typically follow a standard formula by identifying who, what, where, when, and why in the opening lines of an article. With the purpose to report Jack’s accident in today’s new, it might read like this.
Teens Suffer Injury After Tragic Fall
IDAHO — — Two Boise teens are under careful watch at Saint Luke’s Hospital after a tragic accident last Friday. The two teens, Jack Smitz and Jill Meyer, were traveling up Northpoint Road in West Boise in an attempt to bring back water for Meyer’s mother when an unexpected storm arose. The teens tried to escape the weather by climbing to a nearby covered cave. Jack lost his footing on the rocks and suffered severe injuries to his head. Jill thus struggled to catch him, but also ended up falling down the steep incline. “From what we have gathered through their injuries, they fell for no less than 20 feet,” says Officer Tyler Cole. “The scene was serious enough to call in emergency health services. When paramedics arrived at the scene, they immediately took the children away.” The teens are expected to be released from Saint Luke’s next week.
Notice how the article is crisp and to the point, meeting the goal by presenting facts without opinions. This approach focuses on the specifics of the incident. Usually, if the reporter shares witness accounts or reactions to an incident, it comes later in the article. A professional style answers questions and delivers relevant information at a comfortable reading level so it is accessible to the mass population.
Casual conversations reflect a personal tone
Pete Jones meandered up the land toward Deacon Patrick’s yard. As he neared the picket fence Pete could see the Deacon weeding his garden, so he shouted a friendly greeting. Deacon Patrick arose and went to chat with Pete. Nearing the fence, Pete sensed the Deacon was troubled. “What’s the matter,” he asked.
“Oh, I have just returned from Doc Smith’s house. There was an accident over at Potter’s Hill. It seems the Jackson’s twins, Jack and Jill, had a bad experience fetching water at Stony Creek. Apparently, Jack fell and Jill tried to help but tripped over the same log. I just returned from visiting their ma.”
“That’s too bad. Maybe I’ll call on Mrs. Jackson after I take these peas to market.”
Suspense requires a mood
If Edgar Allen Poe, the master of macabre, penned the story of Jack’s tumble, it might sound like this.
On a dark and dreary night, two unforeseen teens traveled up a warn pathway desperately seeking the water that lay at the top. Shaking bodies and aching muscles lead them further and further up the way. Thirst tears at their bodies longing for fulfillment. Jack’s throbbing leg stepped once more onto the unseen pathway, merely to lose his footing on a mossy rock and plummet down the rock-strewn embankment. Jill struggled to help him, only to heed his icy shriek as it pierced through the darkness. She plunged down the edge only to find herself giving up hope of survival and water.
Publishers’ responses seldom prompt me to revise the voice in my writing anymore because during revision, I consciously focus on audience, purpose, tone and mood, knowing that the voice must consistently unite all four to bring cohesion to the final. With consistency from the first sentence to the last, the voice of the piece will successfully captured the reader’s attention.
An effective voice hooks the reader and retains their attention until the end leaving them satisfied and informed.
Interested in learning how to hook a readers? Read more.