Author voice, character voice, narrator voice…what even is the difference?! And do I really need to know all three?

This was the question blowing up the chat during my presentation 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice at last month’s Perfect Your Process Summit. There were so many good questions and not enough time, that I am now answering them in a Substack LIVE.

This is your no-stress guide to the three different types of voice in novel writing, why you're accidentally leaking into your characters, and my deranged pantser method of using voice to draft my fiction books before I even have a character (or any story structure at all!)

Quotes:

“You want to be very careful about imparting your voice into your characters because that's how all your characters tend to sound the same."

"I could have the hookiest of hooks. But if I don't have a voice in my head, I can't get started. I don't even know how to get started."

In this episode:

• Differentiating author, narrator, and character voice and where they work in your writing process
• Why your first draft isn’t the time to perfect voice—catch it in revision!
• Can your characters be you when you're writing in first person a character who shares your demographics? (fanfiction self-inserts exempt...)
• "Do I even have an author voice?" Yes. You do.
• And this is just Part 1!

I answer the summit's biggest voice fears—boring voice, AI voice, query letter voice, and saying no to your editor—in Part 2. Subscribe to this show to catch the rest!

FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing decision tree: https://bit.ly/freeflowchart

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Author Voice

00:49 Question #1: How do you impart your voice into your characters while still making them distinct?

01:34 When should I worry about these 3 voices?

02:32 Question #2: Should you make yourself the character?

04:22 Question #3: Do I have an author voice if my writing is character-driven?

05:22 Definitions: What is character, narrator and author voice?

06:55 Get it in revision!

07:28 Beginning a story on voice alone?!

08:57 In Part 2: Voice examples, application + short story question

Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: ⁠www.sophiachang.com⁠

TOPICS: author voice, character voice, narrator voice, writing voice tips, how to find your writing voice, pantser writing process, writing craft, first person writing, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, books and fitness podcast

What is author voice—and why is it the #1 thing agents and editors look for?

In my first Substack live video, I share why I'm presenting at the Perfect Your Process Summit 2026, how my Hollywood acting career taught me what makes a writer's voice unforgettable, and how you can join me for free.

3 or 4 years ago I fell down the online writing summit rabbit hole. As a disabled writer, it was my only way to connect with other authors. I discovered some British guy named Daniel David Wallace and followed everything he did.

Now in 2026, I'm certified in his Character-First teaching method, I work with him, I've hired him to coach my own novels—and I'm finally presenting at one of these summits I used to watch from the sidelines.

My 2018 phone couldn’t handle the 97 degree heat so some of the sync is off in the recording.

IN THIS VIDEO:

• How I booked my second audition ever—and what casting directors taught me about snap judgments

• What got me full manuscript requests on every novel I queried

• Why Hollywood was easier than traditional publishing (!!)

• What happened when I built an AI bot to replicate my voice

• Why author voice is the one thing that AI-proofs your writing

• What you get with the free summit pass vs. the All Access Pass

🎟️ The summit is FREE to watch live (March 21–24, 2026). Talks lock after 24 hours. The All Access Pass ($87) gives you lifetime replays, transcripts, a private podcast feed, and speaker bonuses. Price goes up after March 21!

👉 Grab the All Access Pass through my link: https://summit.yourwritingprocess.com/?sc=aXR7SFnR&ac=Ad77WPKY

It costs you nothing extra and supports my work. And I will love you forever.

👉 My talk goes live: Tuesday, March 24 at 2 PM Pacific

📓 Get my FREE writer's voice workbook: https://www.sophiachang.com/hollywood

0:00 Why I'm doing this live in 97-degree heat

0:30 How I fell down the online summit rabbit hole

1:07 Discovering Daniel David Wallace

1:46 The All Access Pass — what you get and why it's worth it

3:09 My talk: 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice

3:16 Why I'm really good at pitching (and what that has to do with acting)

4:02 Booking my second audition ever — and what casting taught me

5:05 Why Hollywood was actually easier than traditional publishing

6:06 Why AI can never replicate your voice

7:56 Summit link

Topics: author voice, writing craft, writing tips, find your voice, writing summit, Perfect Your Process, Daniel David Wallace, novel writing, writing process, query tips, how to write a novel, Reese's Book Club, writing advice, AI-proof your writing, author voice exercises