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I've read many blogs where they teach you how to give an unique voice to your characters. I feel I understand how to do it, but I think I'm a little stuck the the voice that I've been using since I started writing.

I was wondering if there are some writing exercises to help me in this area?

(The only thing that comes to my mind is to write a dialogue using people that I know. But I'm not sure how effective will be.)

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Some of my suggestions from this question may help: writers.stackexchange.com/questions/6965/… – Lauren Ipsum Jan 20 at 13:35
Talk with the character once a day, any time you like, but not immediately before writing. In your mind, imagine your entire existence to be a talking head, exactly where your real head is in the real world. Imagine the character you talk to in front of you, in full-detail (head, body, clothes and gear). Think about how you're reacting to them and how you're showing your reactions. Then talk to them about their story. You know everything about their world, sure they'll have encyclopedias-worth of questions to ask. – Mussri Jan 21 at 16:54

2 Answers

I think that the easiest way to write engaging and organic dialogue is to know your character inside and out. This way, you will find their inner voice--their way of speaking, thinking. To know them is to let their unique voice ring true.

An exercise might be to compile a back history on your intended character and put them in a small "situation". Write a monologue for your character, a plan to get them out of the situation, either triumphantly or tragically. Etc., etc., for the rest of your characters.

Every character you can think of to write is merely an extension of yourself. We are all multi-faceted. Just dig in there and find that character in yourself.

Good luck.

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I can think of a fairly easy exercise.

Write a dialogue for 3 or more characters without ever identifying the speakers beyond the early introduction. Make sure the reader is able to tell them apart by their voices alone. Give it to someone to read (I think even posting that here would be okay) to see if you succeeded.

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