VOICE AND TONE

School bus covered in graffiti. Windshield has 'Use Your Voice' in blue paint

Mind the Mood

A Guide to Voice and Tone in Writing

Whether you're penning an epic fantasy, a gritty thriller, or a delightful rom-com where everyone owns far too many throw pillows, your voice and tone are what breathe life into your writing. They’re the invisible threads that stitch your story together—and when done right, readers won’t even notice them. But oh, they’ll feel them.

Let’s break it down and make sure no editor turns your literary baby into someone else’s orphan.

Voice vs. Tone: Know Thy Literary Darlings

Voice is your writing personality—the unique fingerprint you leave on every page. It’s the unteachable magic in your word choice, sentence rhythm, and attitude that makes your writing recognisably yours. Like your real-life personality, it tends to stick around.

Tone, on the other hand, is the mood you set for each piece or scene. It's your attitude toward the subject, filtered through your voice. Tone changes with purpose, audience, and situation. You wouldn’t write a wedding speech the same way you’d write a break-up letter (unless you’re really brave or working on some gothic metafiction).

Quick Analogy:

Your voice is your personality. Your tone is your mood. Your voice stays steady; your tone shifts depending on the emotional temperature.

In conversation, this plays out in pitch, volume and body language.

In writing, it’s all about punctuation, grammar, italics, bold, CAPITALS, and clever word choices.

Why Bother? The Perils of a Bland Book

A strong, consistent voice keeps your readers engaged. It’s what makes them say, “I’d read this author’s shopping list.” A clear, intentional tone ensures your emotional undercurrent hits the right note—whether that’s tension, hilarity, despair, or dry sarcasm.

Without either? Well, your book might read like a damp sponge: technically serviceable, but utterly forgettable.

Tone Up and Voice On: Practical Tips to Avoid Literary Monotony

Here’s how to refine and reinforce your tone and voice, without going full thesaurus-thumper or grammar tyrant:

1. Keep Your Voice on a Lead (But Let It Bark Occasionally)

Consistency is queen. If your voice is quirky and casual, don’t suddenly slip into Queen’s English halfway through. Unless, of course, your narrator gets possessed by the ghost of a Victorian governess—in which case, carry on.

2. Speak to the Room

Match your tone to your audience. Young adults? Casual and snappy. Academic types? Polished and precise. Fantasy readers? Slightly dramatic with extra adjectives. You get the idea.

3. Match the Mood to the Message

Is your scene tragic or triumphant? Romantic or rage-inducing? Adjust your tone accordingly. Writing a eulogy? Probably not the best time for slapstick.

4. Use Active Voice Like You Mean It

The passive voice should be avoided (see what I did there?). It sounds cold, distant, and faintly bureaucratic. Active voice brings clarity, energy, and a bit of oomph.

5. Don’t Beat the Drum Too Loudly

Yes, consistency is important. But if every page screams “LOOK AT MY SARCASM,” readers will tire fast. Think of tone like seasoning—sprinkle, don’t smother.

6. Read It Out Loud

Your ears are brilliant editors. Reading aloud reveals where the tone goes rogue or the voice gets lost. If it sounds awkward out loud, it probably reads awkwardly in silence.

7. Whose Voice Is It Anyway?

In fiction, your characters’ voices should take centre stage. Your own should be invisible—lurking, yes, but not waving.

Try this test:

Copy a chapter and delete all prose that isn’t dialogue. Can you still tell who’s speaking? If everyone sounds like you, it's time for a rewrite.

The Editor Tango: Keeping Your Voice While Taking Critique

Editors are like nannies: you need one that loves your child, not one that tries to rename it.

Before you commit to a long-term editorial relationship, ask:

Have they worked in your genre?
Did they sample-edit your work first?
Do they understand what you’re trying to achieve?

If they rewrite your manuscript so much that you barely recognise it, it’s not editing—it’s a hostile takeover. That said, don’t dismiss everything outright. Good editors spot bad habits you’re blind to.

Case in point: the beloved ellipsis… once my favourite drama queen of punctuation. My editor staged an intervention. It stung. But they were right. Removing them tightened my pacing and sharpened my sass.

So here’s the trick:

Look for patterns in their edits.
Separate helpful feedback (e.g. fixing passive voice, trimming waffle) from personal preference.
Run changes by beta readers if you're unsure.

If you still feel like your voice has been silenced, it may be time to find another editor—one who tweaks your work without redecorating it in their own wallpaper.

Voice vs Tone: A Theatrical Display in Miniature

Let’s stop waffling and show you what all this voice-and-tone fuss is really about.

Below, you’ll find a series of short scenes—all saying essentially the same thing, but in very different voices and tones. Think of them as the same outfit worn by different personalities, each with their own flair for drama, sulking, sarcasm, or elegance.

This isn’t about what is said—it’s about how it’s said. Welcome to the stylistic costume party, where your story can sound like a heartbroken poet, a dry-witted cynic, or a noir detective with trust issues, depending on the tone and voice you choose.

Observe, enjoy, and steal shamelessly for your own writing.

Example 1: Describing a Rainy Day

Neutral Voice, Dreary Tone

The rain fell steadily, soaking the pavement. The sky was grey, and the streets were empty.

Tone: bleak, emotionless
Voice: straightforward, stripped-back

Whimsical Voice, Melancholy Tone

Raindrops tap-danced their way down the windows, as though trying to cheer up the dismal grey morning. They failed. Miserably.

Tone: sad, with a hint of humour
Voice: playful and metaphorical

Sassy Voice, Irritated Tone

Of course it was raining. Because why wouldn’t the weather be having a tantrum just when I left my umbrella in the Uber?

Tone: annoyed
Voice: modern, sarcastic, character-driven

Example 2: A Character Saying “I’m Not Going”

Formal Voice, Resigned Tone

“I’m afraid I won’t be attending. Circumstances simply don’t allow it.”

Tone: polite but distant
Voice: refined and reserved

Youthful Voice, Defiant Tone

“Nope. Not happening. You can beg all you want, but I’m not going.”

Tone: rebellious, sharp
Voice: casual, clipped, energetic

Eccentric Voice, Anxious Tone

“Oh, goodness no. Me? There? With people? Absolutely not. I’d rather eat my own shoelaces.”

Tone: anxious, exaggerated
Voice: quirky, comedic

Example 3: Narrating a Fight Scene

Thriller Voice, Intense Tone

He ducked. The fist missed by inches. One breath, two—then he struck back, quick and brutal.

Tone: tense, urgent
Voice: punchy, minimal, action-focused

Romantic Voice, Emotional Tone

He struck not out of rage, but betrayal. Her words still echoed in his head, louder than the crash of fists.

Tone: emotional, conflicted
Voice: lyrical, introspective

Wry Voice, Humorous Tone

He threw a punch. It landed with all the grace of a damp sponge. She raised an eyebrow. “Was that... supposed to hurt?”

Tone: comedic
Voice: dry, irreverent, character-led

How to Use These Examples

When developing your voice, notice how you naturally describe things. Are you blunt? Flowery? Metaphorical? Sardonic?

When crafting your tone, consider the scene’s emotion. Are your characters calm, furious, heartbroken, elated?

And always ask: Does the tone match the moment, and does the voice feel like mine?

You can even do this exercise yourself. Take a single scene and write it three ways:

In your natural voice.
In someone else’s voice (pretend you’re Jane Austen or Stephen King).
With a completely different tone (turn a sad moment funny, or vice versa).

It’s like literary dress-up. And no one even has to see it.

Final Thoughts: Your Voice, Their Hearts, and Everyone’s Sanity

To sum up this delightful deep dive:

Voice is your writing DNA. It’s what makes you you.
Tone is the emotional filter you apply scene by scene.
They must work together, like Ant and Dec, but for prose.
Stay consistent in voice, but flexible in tone.
Edit with intent—keeping the balance between clarity and personality.
Collaborate with your editor, not surrender to them. Respect their notes, but remember: you’re the author. Your name’s going on the cover, not theirs.

Mastering tone and voice isn’t an overnight affair. It’s trial, error, practice, and the occasional existential meltdown. But stick with it, and you’ll craft stories that don’t just tell readers what happened—but make them feel it.

Now off you pop and write something brilliant.

And for heaven’s sake, mind the ellipses…