The lines between voice and style can become blurry for writers, making the definition of each crucial for development and proper completion of writing projects and assignments. One of the most effective ways to differentiate between the two is by looking at what sets each apart.
Learning how to make voice and style work together is also an essential part of the writer’s journey, particularly when writing fiction and non-fiction content. In this guide, we’ll take a look at what sets the two apart, and do so in a way that will help you integrate both into your writing.
What is writing voice?
A writer’s voice is their unique personality and perspective that comes through in articles, stories, and blog posts. It can be seen as the way in which a writer’s mind assembles thoughts and ideas before putting them down on paper.
Voice can help convey to the readers who is speaking, and it provides an extra layer of depth. That depth is tied to tone, which allows readers to relate to the story on an emotional level. It’s fair to say that voice is what makes written content feel human and relatable.
Writers must consider voice when writing from a character’s perspective if they’re writing a story. For non-fiction pieces, voice is a great way for a writer’s personality to shine through the content, no matter its subject or style.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of voice:
Character voice is the distinct way that a character or narrator thinks, speaks, and acts within a story.
Author voice is tied to the rhythm and sensibility that a writer shows through their different writing projects.
What is writing style?
Writing style is more tied to the tangible and technical decisions that a writer makes when compiling a story or article. It is more focused on the vocabulary the writer uses, the sentence length and structure, and the grammatical choices.
To compare it to music, a writer’s voice is their unique singing voice, while the style is the melody and cadence. Both must work together to create a full ensemble.
There are two popular styles that writers tend to gravitate toward. Here’s a closer examination of each:
Minimalist style is marked by its sparse use of prose, more simplistic vocabulary, and direct language. Little is wasted, and little is elaborated upon. It’s a style that author Ernest Hemingway became famous for using in his stories.
Ornate style is the alternative. Writers who use an ornate style are more likely to lean heavily into metaphors to help add to the story. Those metaphors are paired with detailed imagery and flowy, complex sentences that add context to what is happening in the story or article.
Key differences
Having a clear understanding of both voice and style makes it easier to comprehend the differences between the two. Here’s a further examination at what separates the two.
Voice is all about perspective, attitude, and personality. Meanwhile, style is about the techniques, mechanics, and structures used to tell a story or cover a topic.
Voice also differs from style because of its origins. A writer’s voice comes from within either their experiences or their character’s background. Style originates from choices in vocabulary and pacing, making it more adopted rather than organic.
The consistency marks another notable difference between voice and style. Voice should be consistent and recognizable across all written works. It should be the equivalent of a writer’s written voice, which is unique to them. Style can and should change from one project or story to the next, helping to make it stand apart from other works.
Both have their part to play, and they work best when working together. Writers who gain an understanding of voice and style can elevate their skills and demonstrate a maturity to their writing. It’s an essential part of the journey for freelancers, authors, and bloggers who wish to share stories and content with an audience.