What techniques can you use to create distinct voices for your characters?

Find a mood. It could be the mood of a region like "always in a hurry New Yorkers" or "Indian mystics who will find peace and time for another Sunset. Actor, Rik Mayall was asked where he found the voice for his comedy character, Kevin Turvey (a self appointed investigative reporter). The sound was very Birmingham/West Midlands in the UK. He explained that it was just a "mood". Find the mood and the character/accent will follow. Contact me if you'd like to know more.

As each character is different you need to 'wear them' ie change your body posture, your facial expressions, pitch, tone, rhythm of speech, intent, why are they reacting/speaking this way? Have a phrase to help you become that character. Move!

Give each character unique ways of speaking, like a quirky accent, favorite phrases, or a particular way of pronouncing words. Imagine one character always says "indeed" while another always says "totally."

Eine der simpelsten Methoden zb für Computerspiel-Vertonungen ist es, den Kehlkopf mit dem Daumen seitlich weg zu drücken. Schon hat man eine andere Stimme, ohne es künstlich herstellen zu müssen.

One of the simplest trick to generate a different voice is to push your throat it a bit to one side with your hand. This way i can concentrate more on my performance instead of maintaining a character voice. I use that trick regularly when i have record different voices in one documentary for example. Changing position and distance to the microphone also helps a lot.

Use descriptive tags to show how they speak, like "he whispered" or "she shouted." This helps convey their personality and emotions without saying it directly.

Let readers into your characters’ heads by sharing their thoughts. One character might think in short, snappy sentences, while another might have long, wandering thoughts. This makes each voice unique and memorable.

Creating distinct voices for your characters involves using specific techniques that reflect their unique backgrounds, personalities, and cultural contexts, especially in the diverse Asia-Pacific market. For instance, if you are developing characters for a novel set in multicultural Singapore, you could draw on the city-state's rich linguistic diversity. Incorporate elements of Singlish,a colloquial blend of English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil,to give authenticity to your characters' dialogues.Different characters might use varying levels of formality, slang, or local idioms depending on their age, social status, and education.

Consistency: Ensure each character's voice remains consistent throughout the story. Inconsistencies can confuse readers and weaken character development. Character Backstory: Develop detailed backstories for your characters. Understanding their history, experiences, and motivations will help you craft more authentic and distinct voices. Dialogue Read-Aloud: Read your dialogue out loud to ensure it sounds natural and fits the character. This technique can help you catch any awkward or out-of-character lines.