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Voice and Language by Mira Reisberg

7/20/2015

10 Comments

 
One of the key things an editor or agent looks for is a strong author's voice and strong distinctive voices for their characters.

Way back in May, I started a series of posts on the essentials of craft in writing for children. This post on voice (and language) is the final post in that series. Here are the earlier ones:

Character Driving Plot
http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/mondays-with-mandy-or-mira/character-driving-plot

The Pleasures of Plot http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/mondays-with-mandy-or-mira/the-pleasures-of-plot-and-a-hello-from-kelly-delaney

Pacing http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/mondays-with-mandy-or-mira/pacing-picture-books-with-mira-reisberg

One of the parameters of writing a blog is keeping it short, so in honoring those parameters, I'm going to keep it as short as I can and offer folks the opportunity, until August 10th, to purchase a much more in-depth mini-intensive on voice for the incredibly low price of $19.97 right here!
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So here goes for the blog length post on voice:

Author's Voice

An  author's voice is the distinctive way that they tell their stories. Some writers use directive-laden, fast-paced language with active verbs and short staccato sentences.

Others spread their language out over time and space with long languid sentences and multisyllabic words.

Some authors are masters of metaphor and simile infusing their writing with all sorts lyrical language devices like alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhythm and repetition.
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Others use humor and wordplay and puns to tickle their readers funny bones, while others write in a way that drips in irony and British sounding propriety.

This is the author's voice, which manifests in how the author uses language - how they construct sentences, where they place them, and which actual words they use.
Character's Voices

The author creates their character's voice by getting to know them really well. Once they know their characters intimately-how they move, dress, think, their backgrounds and cultural influences, the kind of language that they use, their interests, passions, fears, and flaws, favorite words and expressions etc., then they know how to channel how their characters talk and act. In other words, how they talk and react to situations, how they move through the story, how they express their feelings through words, actions, and physical mannerisms with distinctive verbal and/or physical quirks and gestures.
This is character voice.

If you'd like to learn a whole lot more about developing strong voice,
click here to enroll for the mini course for only $19.97 until August 10th!

Comments and shares are much loved :)
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Mira Reisberg has helped MANY authors and illustrators get published.
She has worn just about every hat in the industry including art director, editor, illustrator and author, and literary agent.
Mira holds a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on children's literature. She is also an award-winning children's book illustrator and writer.
And most of all she loves nurturing her own and others creativity.


10 Comments
MARY
7/20/2015 05:20:30 am

MIRA--unparalleled, unrivalled, unmatched! Thanks for this great post!!

Reply
Mira
7/23/2015 09:30:48 am

Thank you Mary for taking the time to comment. It's really sad when you get few or no comments. Yours made up for a lot :)

Reply
JEN Garrett link
7/25/2015 02:51:21 am

It's so important that you spend a little time getting to know your characters. Invite them to a party! :)

Reply
Deb Bartsch
7/30/2015 02:15:25 am

Thanks Mira for all your wealth of information you pass along to us. I really like thinking about my characters. It's a mental puzzle and I get to put all the pieces together!
You are phenomenal.
Deb Bartsch

Reply
Monica Lauscher
7/31/2015 12:28:47 am

Thanks for offering this mini course on voice, Mira. Can't wait to get started. Have a wonderful time at the conference in LA.

Reply
Marianna Barber
9/1/2015 09:10:38 am

I love your definition of 'character voice' and how the author develops this. I like the idea of spending time with your characters, before being ready to write their story. Acknowledging the time it takes to craft a story is helpful, and reminds us not to rush, but to allow the creative mind to work its magic.

Reply
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5/17/2019 01:20:51 pm

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5/3/2021 04:07:52 am

I completely resolved my question when I read this post, thanks to the author for the very detailed description. I wrote my review on the site, you can go in and read. Thank you very much for your attention in your time.

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  • Home
  • WRITING
    • Mastering Great Graphic Novels >
      • 2023 Mastering Graphic Novels Registration
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • 2022 Kidlit Palooza >
      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
    • Never a Dull Moment Workshop
  • TECH
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • Meet the Faculty, Lives & GT Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Books by Students
    • Our Bookshop
    • As Seen In
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
  • MN Course Access
  • Community
    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
      • Larissa Marantz Merit & Need Scholarship