Have you ever wondered what your favorite author’s voice sounds like? Even if you’ve never had the blessing of meeting him or her in person, you probably already have an idea. In case you were wondering, I’m not referring to an author’s actual voice, but to the literary one.
According to literarydevices.net, “A voice in literature is the form or a format through which narrators tell their stories. It is prominent when a writer places himself herself into words, and provides a sense that the character is real person, conveying a specific message the writer intends to convey. In simple words, it is an author’s individual writing style or point of view.”
For authors, finding our voice is a big part of the writing journey. For me personally, it took me a couple of books to discover what makes my writing unique. An important part of this discovery was reading reviews and hearing from readers like you what stood out about my writing style.
As a reader, I’m drawn to writing that is emotional, vulnerable, and funny. I love reading descriptions that appeal to all of my senses, in particular touch and hearing. I also like getting inside a character’s thoughts, so I prefer authors who write from a deeper point of view.
Now it’s your turn to share. :) I’d love to know what qualities you look for in an author’s voice. Please comment below and let me know!
Giveaway: I’d like to give away a $5 Amazon gift card. One winner will be randomly chosen from the comments below. The giveaway will remain open until midnight on Tuesday, December 31st.
And if you’re looking for a heartfelt and fun series to get you through the cold days ahead, please check out my Spark Brothers series! All five books are available in Kindle Unlimited and also in paperback.
I wish you a very Happy New Year! See you in 2020!
A chauffeur and referee by day (AKA a stay at home mom of two), Liwen Y. Ho writes inspirational and sweet romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).
Happy Holidays Liwen! As a retired literature teacher, I appreciate the author’s voice. As I age my attention span is getting shorter and therefore one pet peeve is when authors pad their work with cliches or long flowery descriptive passages; yet I want to be able to see, hear, smell, touch and feel a part of the story. As a reader, I want to be drawn into the story, visualize the setting and characters, and come away with a lesson learned, which most contemporary romance authors write so well. Yes, writing is an art. Finding one’s voice takes time. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes as we approach 2020.
I also appreciate authors who take me deep into the characters’ thoughts and desires, so I gravitate towards first-person. But I like voices that are snarky or a bit sarcastic, especially ones that are witty.
I appreciate authors who make their characters jump off the page because they seem so real. Sometimes I think characters are too stuffy and don’t seem like what a “real” person would think or do.
Hi Renate! Happy holidays to you! I definitely appreciate what you’re saying. I enjoy being immersed in a story, too, and also learn something worthwhile. I love how stories can entertain and teach (like the parables). Great thoughts; thanks for sharing them! Happy new year to you!
Hi Lila! Ooh, first-person is both challenging and fun to write (I’m writing one now). Snarky and sarcastic—love those kind of characters, too; they’re quite entertaining. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Megan! Oh, totally agree! I love it when characters have faults and learn from them. It makes them more relatable. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I like a bit of humor. I like characters that feel real, that I could be friends with. I do not like a heavy emphasis on what characters look like, but I do like reading about their actions and values.
Hi Margaret! Good to know! Yes, I love humor, too, and realistic, relatable characters. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I like straightforward writing. I like a writing voice who draws me in, just like a new person I’m meeting might draw me into their personality. I like some description of the setting or the appearance of the characters but not much. Get on with the story. Picking up a book while I’m reading it, and picking up reading where I left off makes me feel like I’m back with a good friend.
Hi Laurie! Well said. :) I do admit to sometimes skipping the “extras” like description and setting and just diving into the story, too. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I enjoy characters who seem real and have some action. I enjoy scenery and feelings but it can get too bogged down for me if it is excessive.
I like characters that seem real, ones that seem like I’m really meeting them and that draw me in to the story with them. I like to experience the things they are as they are. Like in a suspense, I want to figure it out when they do, not a lot before. I know that eventually the main characters will get together, but I don’t want to figure everything out about that before they do, either.
I want to be able to visualise the scene. I don’t want an information dump, but when I read I like to have a great sense of the story.
Hi Diana! Yes, it’s nice to have a good balance between all of those elements. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I enjoy enough basic description to get me situated in a scene. I like to hear about the more specific description as a character experiences it either as memories or in dialogue. I, too, enjoy characters that would be fun to meet in person, kind, intelligent, a sense of humor especially in difficult circumstances. I enjoy both first and third person so long as the character’s thought life doesn’t get too repetitive or stuck in a rut with no learning.
Hi Trudy! Sounds like you’re a patient reader in being willing to wait for things to be revealed. :) Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Mary! Yes, definitely agree with you about no info dumps! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Lincoln! I love what you said about having a sense of humor in difficult circumstances—that’s important both in fiction and real life. Thanks for reading and commenting!
An interesting question and I honestly don’t know. I love Mary Coneally’s books cos of the humour in them and the fact if in doubt blow something up.
I loved Gilbert Morris’s books cos they were not just a story they had facts and would tell what was happening at the same time woven into the story. I am still waiting for a trivia question “How did Rolland Garros home of the French Open get its name?” (may have spelt it wrong). It was named after Rolland Garros the French flying ace who invented a machine gun that didn’t shoot of the propeller. I thank Gilbert Morris for that.
I guess I like humour, and good story telling. Some books stand out due to a great story with the extra titbits and hidden gems.
I mostly like third person and occasionally first person, if well done. I adore poetic descriptions of scenes and moods. It puts me in the story.
Hi Ausjenny! I’m afraid I haven’t read either of those authors’ books, but thanks for mentioning them. It sounds like you love funny and factual storytelling, both of which can be very entertaining. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Paula! Ooh, that sounds lovely. I remember the first time I read a Francine Rivers book, I thought her writing style was so poetic. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I just read A Single Spark yesterday. :)
Oh wow, you did, Toni? Thanks so much for reading it, especially during this busy season!
I like characters so life-like that I could easily see myself sitting down with them for a chat over a cup of tea. I like descriptions of settings that give me a feel for them without describing every pillow and painting.
Hi Lisa! Same here! It would be so fun to have tea with the characters from my favorite stories. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Liwen!
This is a good question! I haven’t actually thought much about what do I look for in an author’s voice, but I know that I enjoy many of the things you mentioned for yourself (descriptions, inner thoughts, deep reflections) as well as a meaningful encounter/ relationship with Jesus, which is why I think I enjoy your books very much :) Thank you for the chance!
Hi Priscila! :) Hope you had a good Christmas! Aww, thanks for your kind comment. Thanks for reading and commenting!