: Re: How do I differentiate between the "voices" of my characters in a multi-character POV? I'm currently writing a novel with 3-4 character POVs in it - two male, two female. Each have different

@Alves689

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Answering another question I got into a back and forth with regard to 'write what you know' vs 'research'. This is an area where 'write what you know' certainly wins out. The limit and breadth of your characters is governed by how many impressions you can do.

Note that I used 'back and forth' rather than 'debate' or 'argument' - stole that little gem from the White House press secretary. Voice and dialogue is something you need to learn by listening rather than reading. You can develop an ear by listening in the strangest of places. You want to learn the voice of an English professor? - Listen to UK cricket commentary. You want a well-educated African-American father . . . listen to an Obama speech.

And you shouldn't put the cart before the horse. My stories usually contain English white girls, US Valley girls, US Hispanic women, Bigoted right-wing men . . . because these are the voices I am good at. I don't have a demure Japanese character because I cannot do that voice.

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