This is the podcast episode from the Shelf Life article Voice Lessons, published June 1, 2026.
In this post, I break down what character voice really is—not just accent or catchphrases, but the way a character cannot help speaking. I argue that voice is a compound made of six elements: diction, syntax, rhythm and pace, formality register, catchphrases and tics, and emotional default. Using two seemingly similar characters—Rob and Harriet—I show how backstory shapes each of those elements, from Rob's sarcasm and rapid speech born of being overlooked in a large family to Harriet's overexplaining and formal register born of being an only child desperate to prove herself. My core message is that if you thoughtfully choose those six characteristics based on your character's history, their voice becomes not something you invent, but something inevitable.
