My voice changed!!!

sissybaby · Jul 24, 2011

Okay - it isn't what you thought. My MC in my WIP is a 12 yo female, so her voice didn't change like that.

But I think her voice over the course of the work so far has changed. I don't know how that happened, and it worries me.

Should I be worried? Does anyone else have this problem? Or is it not a problem?

playground · Jul 24, 2011

Two things I think of with this. First is that it is good because a kid changes at that age so much it seems that it seems like it would be almost unbelievable if she didn't change how she acted and such. And does the change in voice also indicate her growing up in general? Also, a change of voice represents growth in general, you don't want a character that doesn't learn anything or grow throughout the novel, at least in my opinion. As long as you are comfortable writing than it should be fine.

Ferret · Jul 24, 2011

It's a little hard to comment without knowing how the voice has changed. If it's indicative of character growth, it could be a good thing. If it's your adult voice creeping in, it probably needs to be addressed. Maybe you could post an early section and a later section in SYW.

Kitty Pryde · Jul 24, 2011

Or it could be that as you wrote and figured out the character, you refined her voice. And maybe you need to go back to earlier sections and edit them to reflect who you have truly discovered the character is. I don't think an actual character's voice would change much in a story--they might get a more mature or wise perspective on stuff, but they won't change their fundamental personality all that much. Like even a character who goes from a very sad hopeless life to a more positive and hopeful life will still be the same person and have the same voice (just be in a different mood!)

SheilaJG · Jul 24, 2011

This happened to me for exactly the reason Kitty mentioned - I started off thinking of my character one way, but as I wrote, he changed, and so did his voice.

I wouldn't be worried, it could be a good thing!

sissybaby · Jul 24, 2011

Thanks, guys/girls. I think it may be a case of me finally figuring out who she is, and I can go back and change her earlier self - if I need to. It may not be necessary.

Ferret - I have posted the very beginning chapter somewhere back a ways, and I just posted a more current section.

I don't know - my critique group should have my last section back soon, and I'll see what they have to say about it. If it isn't addressed to my liking, I'll come back here and post a couple of smaller snippets and see if it's really a problem.

It just seemed to me that sh was changing - but maybe she's let her guard down now because she feels safe for once, even though she doesn't realize it.

I'm not explaining it well at all, sorry. But thanks for the comments.

Celesta · Jul 25, 2011

You'll know when you're finished and you go back and read it.

Ferret · Jul 25, 2011

Kitty Pryde said:
Or it could be that as you wrote and figured out the character, you refined her voice. And maybe you need to go back to earlier sections and edit them to reflect who you have truly discovered the character is.

I don't know why I didn't think of this immediately. I often have to go back and tweak a character's actions and statements at the beginning because I didn't have a perfect picture of the character at that point.

My voice changed!!!

sissybaby

playground

Ferret

Dook!

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

SheilaJG

sissybaby

Celesta

loves writing :)

Ferret

Dook!