Voice in writing shows personality

Find your voice, your unique way of expressing ideas and persuading others, to engage readers and be more inventive. Voice is the distinct quality, style, or tone of a piece that makes a work distinct from others. Readers can discern J. Rowling from Ernest Hemingway not just from the content but from the distinctive voice each writer presents. Voice in writing is a nuanced interplay of stylistic and rhetorical elements.

Specifically, it encompasses:. Stance is the position a writer adopts concerning their subject. Consider a columnist discussing a recent political event. Their stance could range from supportive to critical. The persona , on the other hand, is the role a writer assumes for their audience. Using the same political column, the writer might adopt the persona of a neutral observer or an impassioned activist.

In an op-ed about climate change, a writer might take an urgent stance , using language that conveys immediacy.

Example of voice in literature

The persona they might adopt could be that of a concerned citizen speaking to fellow community members. Over time, we develop our own unique ways of communicating. We invariably develop idiosyncratic ways of expressing ourselves even if we are unaware of our unique stylistic moves.