As requested by TeenWanderer
What sets your character's dialogue and point of view off from others? What makes your readers smile in recognition of your character's point of view, without you mentioning whose point of view it is?
There are three factors that determine your character's primary tone:
The environment in which he grew up in. Was he perhaps raised in a strict family setting of "seen but not heard?" This make may spark his quiet, mild approach of everything. It may also present a certain mentality, or belief. Was he put into a boarding school. This in particular may give him a very distinct outlook on life. Maybe he wasn't educated, this would clearly give him a assuming view of lifestyle. He wouldn't understand and talk like everyone else.
What about timeline? If your character grew up in the 60s, let him possess that style of speech. Don't forget that.
The environment in which he is reacting to. This is especially applicable if your character's past and past setting is only backstory. Because he lives differently now, thus causing him to react to it differently.
This doesn't mean that my past comment means nothing. This aspect only complicates the way t he reacts and deals with his new environment.
He grew up on a farm with a rough lifestyle, now he must deal with city. His change in lifestyle not only seperate him from the rest, but display how he reacts and deals with the new setting. He may attempt to adjust and fit into it, which will probably prove interesting. Or he may stay strong to his heritage, but still endure flowing with it.
His own personality. Last but not least, who is he as an individual? What is his personal outlook on life? Unless the other two completely forced his true self of his skin, he should have at least a hint of his individual personality.
Character voice is a battle of past, environmental pressure, and himself. All these aspects are fighting to take control over how he acts and thinks.
To make the clash simpler, think about yourself. What are you as a person like? How where you raised? How are you dealing with life at the present moment? Now incorporate the process into your character. His opinion and thoughts need to flow with, or oppose his situation.
That should be your primary mentality, but there are a few other things to polish your protagonist's unique mentality.
The little things. Does your character prefer "Oh my gosh" over "goodness gracious?" What does he say when he stubs his toe, or drops something? Does he obsess over something, or have a set role model that he'll repeatedly think about or discuss?
Set some language preferences for your character. These little things form your character's voice of into their own.
Tailor your character's voice after someone you know. It doesn't have to go after their personality, but mimicking a very specific style of speech off of someone you know can be very helpful in developing your character's speech.
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