Voice vs. Tone: A Practical Breakdown Every Writer Needs
Let’s start with a confession.
For years, I used “voice” and “tone” interchangeably. And the truth is, in casual conversation, many writers do. But when you’re revising a manuscript—especially a picture book—confusing these two can be the difference between a manuscript that sings and a manuscript that feels oddly… off.
Because voice and tone are not the same thing. They’re cousins, yes. They work together, absolutely. But they serve different purposes.
So today I want to give you a clear way to understand the difference and revise with purpose.
Voice: who is telling the story
Voice is the personality on the page.
It’s the storyteller’s—or narrator’s—signature. Voice often comes from:
– Word choice
– Rhythm
– Sentence structure
– Humor (or lack of it)
– The narrator’s perspective
– The book’s overall sensibility
Tone: how the story feels (emotionally)
Tone is the emotional atmosphere of the story. If voice is the speaker, tone is the mood of the moment. Tone can shift as the story shifts.
Tone is shaped by:
– The emotional stakes of the scene
– What the character is experiencing
– Pacing
– Tension
– Imagery
– What’s implied (not said)
A simple way to remember it
If you remember nothing else, remember this:
Voice = personality
Tone = emotion
Or another way:
Voice is who’s speaking. Tone is how they feel about what’s happening.
Honing Your Voice
If your manuscript isn’t landing the way you want, ask:
Is my voice unclear? Or is my tone inconsistent?
Those are different revision problems.
Common revision issue #1: Voice is strong, tone is wrong
This happens all the time. A writer develops a voice that’s witty, bright, bouncy…
but the story’s emotional core is tender or serious. Result? Readers feel distance when they should feel closeness.
Fix: Keep the voice—but adjust the tone during key emotional moments.
Let the language soften, and the pacing slow. Let white space do its work.
Common revision issue #2: Tone is clear, voice is generic
This is the opposite. The story’s emotions are working. The scenes have feeling.
But the writing could belong to anyone. You don’t want that. You want a manuscript where the editor says: “I haven’t seen this before.”
Fix: Make choices that add personality.
– Unexpected, juicy verbs
– Sentence rhythms that feel deliberate
– A narrator with a unique sensibility
– Sensory details that surprise
A voice & tone revision checklist
Here are some revision questions you can ask page by page:
For voice:
– Does this sound like one storyteller all the way through?
– Are my word choices distinctive or generic?
– Do my sentences have a rhythm?
For tone:
– Does this moment feel like what the character is experiencing?
– Is the emotional intensity rising when it should?
– Am I undercutting emotion by rushing, or joking?
So the next time you’re revising, don’t ask: Does this sound good?
Ask: Is the voice consistent? And is the tone appropriate to what’s happening?
