Voice (Authorial & Narratives)
In literature, voice helps in expressing the author's attitude, emotions, point of view, and tone through a crafty, well-thought-out choice of diction and word choice. A voice may be formal or informal, strong or lighthearted, negative or positive, argumentative or persuasive, objective or subjective. Voice can express any and every feeling and perspective.
A literary voice piece is the most defining and important feature that can change the way the story is read and received. The same story can be told in two different ways, in one version through a very positive narration, while in another way through a negative narration, and the result will be very different. Meanwhile, two different narrators can address the same subject, but the voice will vary depending on the perspective and feeling about the subject, which will in turn affect the way it is presented.
Understanding Authorial Voice
The author's voice is the author's unique voice, tone, word choice, perspective, and attitude, naturally throughout their work. It goes beyond simply narrating events and reflects the author's worldview, humor, and use of language. The classical example includes Ernest Hemingway’s brisk minimalism or Jane Austen's ironical wit, each of them easily recognizable not just by stories but by the way they unfold them.
Narrative Voice
Narrative voice is the channel through which the story is delivered, the structure and form of storytelling. The narrative structure can have many forms, such as first person, third person, omniscient, playful, and direct in children's narratives. For instance, Mark Twain's Huck Finn is a case of how mischievous storytelling immerses readers in his adventurous journey.
The narrator's voice can shift from the work, adapt to perspective and genre, and meet the demands of the plot, but always subtly cover the author's underlying style.
Conclusion
At the end, it is always important to think about the voice of your writing. It determines how a story works, for the way it is told and how the reader feels and understands the character and events. The voice determines the work's mood and tone, and distinguishes one story or writing piece from another.