Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Alicia Keys Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Doris Kearns Goodwin Teaches U.S. Presidential History and Leadership

Elevate Your Singing and Stage Presence

Helen Mirren Teaches Acting

Jake Shimabukuro Teaches ʻUkulele

John Legend Teaches Songwriting

Joyce Carol Oates Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

LeVar Burton Teaches the Power of Storytelling

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Mariah Carey Teaches the Voice as an Instrument

Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Nancy Cartwright Teaches Voice Acting

Natalie Portman Teaches Acting

Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting

Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

The Duffer Brothers Teach Developing an Original TV Series

Timbaland Teaches Producing and Beatmaking

Legacy: The Power of Storytelling

Choosing Your Story

The Importance of Oral Storytelling

Breakthrough: Behind the Scenes of “The Hill We Climb”

Active Empathy

Ideas: Writing the Familiar

Craft Stories that Endure

Background Vocals, Part 1

Background Vocals, Part 2

Christina's Inspiration

Student Sessions: Simplify

Student Sessions: Rock Style

Diction

Mastering Vocal Techniques

Playing With Textures and Tones

Live Microphones

Song Structure

Introduction

Case Study: Editing & Revision 

The Performance Toolkit

Dialect Coaching: Research and Practice

Mastering Vibrato

Vocal Arrangements

Build Energy in the Booth

Making a Song Your Own

Warming Up Your Voice

Express Nuanced Emotions Through Singing

Crafting Dialogue

Dialogue

Working in a Writers’ Room

Conclusion

How to Start Writing

Revision, Revision, Revision 

Writing Captivating Dialogue

The West Wing Writers' Room: Part 8

"Stranger Things" Season 4 Behind the Scenes

Refine Dialogue in Your Scripts

Final Thoughts

Actors

Helen’s Journey in the Theater

Film Acting Technique, Part 1

Film Acting Technique, Part 3

Case Study: The Queen

Acting on a Film Set

Enriching Your Acting Practice

Casting

Before Performing, Watch

Getting to Know Your Character

Breaking Down Your Script

Taking Your Career to the Next Level

Advice for Actors

Refine Your Acting Instinct

Shakespeare, Part 2

Voice & Character

Case Study: Reading to Children

Meet Your Instructor

Vocal Techniques

Your Vocal Identity

How to Become a Voice Actor: Jump-Starting Your Career

Creating Character Voices

Creating Distinct Characters

Keeping Your Character's Voice Consistent

Lessons From a 10-Year-Old Boy

Harness Your Voice

Form Study: Short Monologue

Voice Characters Authentically

Acting & Performing Arts

Teaches Comedy

Steve Martin

Teaches Dramatic Writing

David Mamet

Teaches Acting

Helen Mirren

Samuel L. Jackson

Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

Teaches The Art of Performance

Usher

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Teaches the Power of Storytelling

LeVar Burton

Teaches the Power of Storytelling 

Teach the Art of Magic

Penn & Teller

Penn & Teller Teach the Art of Magic

Teaches Storytelling and Humor

David Sedaris

David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor

Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Amanda Gorman

Natalie Portman

Teaches Voice Acting

Nancy Cartwright

Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Simone Biles

Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Teaches Filmmaking

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking

Judd Apatow

Using Humor to Make Your Mark

Kevin Hart

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Es Devlin

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art

Es Devlin Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Parris Goebel

Parris Goebel Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Prepare to Be Unprepared

Amy Poehler

Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss

Teaches the Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss Teaches The Art of Negotiation

https://players.brightcove.net/5344802162001/1cMNiwC9oQ_default/index.html?videoId=5801773663001

Head Voice vs. Chest Voice: 4 Differences

Before teaching vocal techniques, voice teachers often review voice types (soprano, alto, tenor, bass/baritone) and registers. Vocal registers are ranges of tones of the human voice. The vibrations of vocal folds, the folds of mucous membranes that stretch across the larynx, produce different tones. There are two main registers: chest voice (which covers the mid to lower range of a voice) and head voice (which consists of the higher range). Singers can practice vocal exercises to strengthen and expand their [vocal range](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vocal-range). Singers often employ multiple vocal registers in one song or [aria](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/arias-in-music) to show off their range and create a more vigorous performance.
The term “head voice” broadly refers to a singer’s upper register. When you sing high notes, there’s a good chance you are using your head voice. The vocal cords naturally shorten to meet that upper range and reach higher notes. The head voice range is the highest register a singer has before hitting the whistle register, which not everyone has. [Mariah Carey](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/mariah-carey-teaches-the-voice-as-an-instrument)’s head voice extends to the whistle register. “When I was a little girl, I would wake up and be so raspy that I would talk like a little squeak,” Mariah recalls. “Then I learned how to make that into something that became like a whistle, like whistling, but with your vocal cords.”
Singers can employ the falsetto and head voice to sing higher notes, so these ranges are often confused for one another. Male and female singers have a falsetto, which reaches into the higher end of your head voice. It has a lighter and softer sound, almost like a flute. The difference is how the vocal cords behave; when singing in falsetto, the vocal cords come slightly apart, but when singing in the head register, they remain together and give the voice a more robust quality.
The chest voice consists of the middle and low notes of your vocal range; this is the range you use in your speaking voice. When you sing in the chest voice, your vocal folds vibrate across their entire length, producing a fuller, more robust sound than the head voice or falsetto. When female singers use this voice register, it may be known as [belting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/belting), especially when the singing voice has a powerful, resonant quality. Singers require proper airflow, phonation, and support to sustain this middle voice.

People can be prone to vocal fry when speaking in the chest voice. Talking with a breathy quality in the lower part of your vocal range requires a loose glottal closure, leading to a cracked and foggy sound. Practicing [vocal health](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vocal-health) is essential for maintaining your speaking and singing voice.
There are several differences between the head voice and chest voice, including:

1. __Quality__: The vocal tone and timbre of these voices vary. Singing in the chest register can have a more pronounced, booming quality, while the head voice can be brighter. 
2. __Range__: Head voice spans a singer’s higher register, and the chest voice covers the lower voice range.
3. __Sensation__: The sensation of singing also differs between these registers. When singing lower notes in your chest voice, you can feel the vibrations in your chest. When you sing in full head voice, however, you feel your voice in the crown of your head, behind your eyes, and between your ears.
4. __Vocal cords__: On the anatomical level, thin vocal cords create head voice, and thick vocal cords create chest voice. 

Mixed voice is a method of singing that uses both your chest voice and your head voice: The head voice allows you to reach higher notes, while the chest voice provides strength. Singing in this area of your chest and throat can give you better control over your voice and the notes you can hit.
Become a better musician with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, St. Vincent, Usher, and more.
Through vocal exercises and singing lessons, artists can learn singing techniques and warm-ups necessary to move comfortably from chest voice to head voice. Learn the differences between these vocal registers.

Through vocal exercises and singing lessons, artists can learn singing techniques and warm-ups necessary to move comfortably from chest voice to head voice. Learn the differences between these vocal registers.

Before teaching vocal techniques, voice teachers often review voice types (soprano, alto, tenor, bass/baritone) and registers. Vocal registers are ranges of tones of the human voice. The vibrations of vocal folds, the folds of mucous membranes that stretch across the larynx, produce different tones. There are two main registers: chest voice (which covers the mid to lower range of a voice) and head voice (which consists of the higher range). Singers can practice vocal exercises to strengthen and expand their <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vocal-range' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vocal-range","linkCopy":"vocal range","category":null}'>vocal range</a>. Singers often employ multiple vocal registers in one song or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/arias-in-music' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/arias-in-music","linkCopy":"aria","category":null}'>aria</a> to show off their range and create a more vigorous performance.

A Brief Overview of Vocal Registers

The term “head voice” broadly refers to a singer’s upper register. When you sing high notes, there’s a good chance you are using your head voice. The vocal cords naturally shorten to meet that upper range and reach higher notes. The head voice range is the highest register a singer has before hitting the whistle register, which not everyone has. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/mariah-carey-teaches-the-voice-as-an-instrument' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/mariah-carey-teaches-the-voice-as-an-instrument","linkCopy":"Mariah Carey","category":null}'>Mariah Carey</a>’s head voice extends to the whistle register. “When I was a little girl, I would wake up and be so raspy that I would talk like a little squeak,” Mariah recalls. “Then I learned how to make that into something that became like a whistle, like whistling, but with your vocal cords.”

What Is Head Voice?

Singers can employ the falsetto and head voice to sing higher notes, so these ranges are often confused for one another. Male and female singers have a falsetto, which reaches into the higher end of your head voice. It has a lighter and softer sound, almost like a flute. The difference is how the vocal cords behave; when singing in falsetto, the vocal cords come slightly apart, but when singing in the head register, they remain together and give the voice a more robust quality.

Head Voice vs. Falsetto: What’s the Difference?

The chest voice consists of the middle and low notes of your vocal range; this is the range you use in your speaking voice. When you sing in the chest voice, your vocal folds vibrate across their entire length, producing a fuller, more robust sound than the head voice or falsetto. When female singers use this voice register, it may be known as <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/belting' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/belting","linkCopy":"belting","category":null}'>belting</a>, especially when the singing voice has a powerful, resonant quality. Singers require proper airflow, phonation, and support to sustain this middle voice.People can be prone to vocal fry when speaking in the chest voice. Talking with a breathy quality in the lower part of your vocal range requires a loose glottal closure, leading to a cracked and foggy sound. Practicing <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vocal-health' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vocal-health","linkCopy":"vocal health","category":null}'>vocal health</a> is essential for maintaining your speaking and singing voice.

What Is Chest Voice?

There are several differences between the head voice and chest voice, including:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Quality: The vocal tone and timbre of these voices vary. Singing in the chest register can have a more pronounced, booming quality, while the head voice can be brighter. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Range: Head voice spans a singer’s higher register, and the chest voice covers the lower voice range. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Sensation: The sensation of singing also differs between these registers. When singing lower notes in your chest voice, you can feel the vibrations in your chest. When you sing in full head voice, however, you feel your voice in the crown of your head, behind your eyes, and between your ears. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Vocal cords: On the anatomical level, thin vocal cords create head voice, and thick vocal cords create chest voice. </li></ol>Mixed voice is a method of singing that uses both your chest voice and your head voice: The head voice allows you to reach higher notes, while the chest voice provides strength. Singing in this area of your chest and throat can give you better control over your voice and the notes you can hit.

Head Voice vs. Chest Voice: What’s the Difference?

Become a better musician with the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, St. Vincent, Usher, and more.

Want to Learn More About Music?

Through vocal exercises and singing lessons, artists can learn singing techniques and warm-ups necessary to move comfortably from chest voice to head voice. Learn the differences between these vocal registers.

Through vocal exercises and singing lessons, artists can learn singing techniques and warm-ups necessary to move comfortably from chest voice to head voice. Learn the differences between these vocal registers.


Female vocalist singing into a microphone.

head-voice-vs-chest-voice

Brand voice is the style of <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a> your company adopts when developing website content, social media posts, company announcements, and other forms of advertising copy. As the personality of your company, your brand voice should be consistent across all forms of communication. It should also adopt an engaging and appropriate style that fits your industry and starts a conversation with potential customers.
Brand voice is an opportunity to distinguish your company from competitors and increase brand recognition. When your brand voice is unique and reflects your company’s values, customers can more easily remember your business and associate your products or services with your company. Brand voice is also a way to attract potential customers and generate [customer loyalty](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/customer-loyalty).
While brand voice encompasses the type of language your company uses to reflect its purpose and values, brand tone describes how your company conveys its message in different situations. 

Brand voice remains consistent across different platforms, as it focuses on your company’s unique personality. On the other hand, the tone of voice remains on brand but changes with different contexts, switching from formal to informal according to the circumstances.
Your brand voice should embody the goal and personality of your company. Here are three different types of brand voices and their main characteristics:

1. __Casual and warm__: One way to engage your customer base is through a casual and friendly brand voice. Businesses that have a warm brand voice develop posts across social media platforms that emphasize customer engagement and interaction. Establishing a sense of relatability with your customers is a marketing technique businesses use to strengthen their customer loyalty and increase brand trust. 
2. __Practical__: For companies that solve customer pain points, a practical brand voice is an effective marketing tool. Combine simple rhetoric with logical solutions to demonstrate how your product or service provides value to the customer. This is also a great [marketing strategy](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/marketing-strategy-guide) for advertising your brand as a business customers can trust. 
3. __Well-informed__: If you want to position your brand as an industry expert, consider adopting a professional voice. Focus your content on educational pieces that inform and assist new and existing customers. You can also use social media posts, website articles, and webinars as an opportunity to comment on industry trends.
A unique brand voice can improve your content marketing strategy and increase brand awareness. Consider the following steps for developing a brand voice that reflects your business:

- __Outline your brand identity__. Identify your company’s core values and mission statement to develop a strong sense of purpose. Having a clear idea of your business goals establishes a foundation for your brand’s personality. Generate a list of key adjectives that describe your brand identity. Use these words as a guide for the type of distinctive brand voice you want to create. 
- __Research your target demographic__. An effective brand voice resonates with its target audience. As you develop your company’s voice, research your main demographic to identify the type of content that best engages your customers. Some data points to consider include the age, geographic location, and interests of your [target market](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/target-market-guide). 
- __Create a style guide__. Collaborate with your content team to develop a [style guide](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-create-a-style-guide), which will be a key tool for aligning your marketing materials with your brand voice. Your guide should reflect the tone and personality of your brand, as well as outline the preferred standards for grammar, point of view, visual aids, and word usage. This will help your marketing team maintain a consistent voice across different channels. 
- __Update existing content__. Review old content to determine whether it fits with your current brand voice. Update any inconsistencies and rephrase content that doesn’t reflect your voice. You can also analyze top-performing content to identify keywords or visuals that resonate with your target audience and capture your brand’s mission.
Develop your online presence and stand out from the crowd with tips from business icon Kris Jenner. Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) for advice on [how to use social media](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-social-media-tips-from-kris-jenner), from establishing a connection across platforms to leveraging metrics for direction. Promote yourself with her [personal brand tips](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/personal-brand-tips-from-kris-jenner) and remember: “You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”
Brand voice is an essential part of your company’s marketing strategy. Learn how to develop a brand voice that engages your target audience.

Brand voice is an essential part of your company’s marketing strategy. Learn how to develop a brand voice that engages your target audience.

Brand Voice: How to Develop a Brand Voice

Brand voice is the style of <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a> your company adopts when developing website content, social media posts, company announcements, and other forms of advertising copy. As the personality of your company, your brand voice should be consistent across all forms of communication. It should also adopt an engaging and appropriate style that fits your industry and starts a conversation with potential customers.

What Is Brand Voice?

Brand voice is an opportunity to distinguish your company from competitors and increase brand recognition. When your brand voice is unique and reflects your company’s values, customers can more easily remember your business and associate your products or services with your company. Brand voice is also a way to attract potential customers and generate <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/customer-loyalty' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/customer-loyalty","linkCopy":"customer loyalty","category":null}'>customer loyalty</a>.

Why Is Brand Voice Important?

While brand voice encompasses the type of language your company uses to reflect its purpose and values, brand tone describes how your company conveys its message in different situations. Brand voice remains consistent across different platforms, as it focuses on your company’s unique personality. On the other hand, the tone of voice remains on brand but changes with different contexts, switching from formal to informal according to the circumstances.

Brand Voice vs. Tone

Your brand voice should embody the goal and personality of your company. Here are three different types of brand voices and their main characteristics:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Casual and warm: One way to engage your customer base is through a casual and friendly brand voice. Businesses that have a warm brand voice develop posts across social media platforms that emphasize customer engagement and interaction. Establishing a sense of relatability with your customers is a marketing technique businesses use to strengthen their customer loyalty and increase brand trust. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Practical: For companies that solve customer pain points, a practical brand voice is an effective marketing tool. Combine simple rhetoric with logical solutions to demonstrate how your product or service provides value to the customer. This is also a great <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/marketing-strategy-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/marketing-strategy-guide","linkCopy":"marketing strategy","category":null}'>marketing strategy</a> for advertising your brand as a business customers can trust. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Well-informed: If you want to position your brand as an industry expert, consider adopting a professional voice. Focus your content on educational pieces that inform and assist new and existing customers. You can also use social media posts, website articles, and webinars as an opportunity to comment on industry trends. </li></ol>

3 Brand Voice Examples

A unique brand voice can improve your content marketing strategy and increase brand awareness. Consider the following steps for developing a brand voice that reflects your business:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Outline your brand identity. Identify your company’s core values and mission statement to develop a strong sense of purpose. Having a clear idea of your business goals establishes a foundation for your brand’s personality. Generate a list of key adjectives that describe your brand identity. Use these words as a guide for the type of distinctive brand voice you want to create. </li><li class="">Research your target demographic. An effective brand voice resonates with its target audience. As you develop your company’s voice, research your main demographic to identify the type of content that best engages your customers. Some data points to consider include the age, geographic location, and interests of your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/target-market-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/target-market-guide","linkCopy":"target market","category":null}'>target market</a>. </li><li class="">Create a style guide. Collaborate with your content team to develop a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-create-a-style-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-create-a-style-guide","linkCopy":"style guide","category":null}'>style guide</a>, which will be a key tool for aligning your marketing materials with your brand voice. Your guide should reflect the tone and personality of your brand, as well as outline the preferred standards for grammar, point of view, visual aids, and word usage. This will help your marketing team maintain a consistent voice across different channels. </li><li class="">Update existing content. Review old content to determine whether it fits with your current brand voice. Update any inconsistencies and rephrase content that doesn’t reflect your voice. You can also analyze top-performing content to identify keywords or visuals that resonate with your target audience and capture your brand’s mission. </li></ul>

How to Develop a Brand Voice

Develop your online presence and stand out from the crowd with tips from business icon Kris Jenner. Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> for advice on <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-social-media-tips-from-kris-jenner' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-social-media-tips-from-kris-jenner","linkCopy":"how to use social media","category":null}'>how to use social media</a>, from establishing a connection across platforms to leveraging metrics for direction. Promote yourself with her <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/personal-brand-tips-from-kris-jenner' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/personal-brand-tips-from-kris-jenner","linkCopy":"personal brand tips","category":null}'>personal brand tips</a> and remember: “You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”

Ready to Learn More About Personal Branding?

Brand voice is an essential part of your company’s marketing strategy. Learn how to develop a brand voice that engages your target audience.

Brand voice is an essential part of your company’s marketing strategy. Learn how to develop a brand voice that engages your target audience.


Close up of hands typing on laptop and working on brand voice.

brand-voice

A master at writing compelling dialogue, [Judy Blume](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/judy-blume-teaches-writing) is a beloved author whose bestselling books for younger readers have maintained relevance and impact for generations. Her best-known works include *Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret*, *Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing*, *Deenie*, and *Blubber*. Judy has also written four novels for adult readers, each one a *New York Times* bestseller. Judy Blume has won more than 90 literary awards, including the Library of Congress Living Legends Award, the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ E.B. White Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Dialogue is a spoken exchange between [multiple characters](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-dialogue-between-multiple-characters) in a play, film, TV show, or another type of [creative writing](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-boost-creativity-and-improve-your-creative-writing). Writing dialogue reveals [character development](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/character-development-questions-to-ask-your-characters), speech patterns, and mannerisms, which can also propel the plot forward. Often, authors employ realistic dialogue that captures how specific people speak. Sometimes they use direct dialogue (showing what a character wants), and other times they are rich in [subtext](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-subtext) (illuminating depth beneath the surface of the exchange).
Writers use dialogue to express ideas, reveal [conflict](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-compelling-conflict), and move the plot forward. According to author Judy Blume, effective dialogue is also essential to character development. “Dialogue helps you advance your story,” Judy says. “Here's a scene, and here's dialogue in the scene. It’s advancing not only your story but your characters because you learn a lot about your characters [through dialogue].”

Great dialogue can reveal [character backstories](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-compelling-character-backstories) and quickly help introduce them the first time they speak. Characters’ dialogue can also show their inner wants, giving readers a clearer sense of how the story will unfold. As Judy says, “Dialogue helps me know who the characters are.”
Dialogue formatting can show verbal exchanges between two characters effectively. Consider these guidelines on how to punctuate dialogue:

- __Insert quotation marks__. Writers should use double [quotation marks](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/when-to-use-quotation-marks-guide) to encase a character’s spoken words. Single quotation marks may appear within dialogue when someone is quoting another. 
- __Place a dialogue tag at the end of a sentence__. Writers typically insert a comma at the end of a sentence as a [dialogue tag](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-dialogue-tags) to denote the speaker (such as: “Let’s eat,” Travis said.). The comma should appear comma before the closing set of quotation marks. 
- __Put closing punctuation after quotation marks__. An [exclamation point](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/exclamatory-sentence-guide) or question mark may also appear before the closing quotation marks.
- __Start a new paragraph__. When characters talk back and forth to one another, start a new section each time another character speaks a line of dialogue.

Categorically, long speeches are [monologues](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-monologue-with-examples), while a piece of dialogue implies an exchange of two or more voices back and forth
Consider the following <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-writing-process' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-writing-process","linkCopy":"writing tips","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>writing tips</a> from Judy Blume on how to craft strong dialogue:

1. __Dialogue breaks up your text__. Writers can use dialogue to enliven long blocks of text. “I'll flip through a book, and if it's dense, dense, dense, dense, no paragraphs, no dialogue, I don't want to read it,” Judy says. “But dialogue lightens up your book on the page. You want white space on the page. Dialogue gives you that: playlets, I often put in little playlets in my book; it's like a little play within a scene.”
2. __To write better dialogue, read more of it__. Authors write great dialogue by reading great dialogue. “Reading and reading and reading, you will find what's good dialogue, what you think is good dialogue, and what you think is wooden and not very good dialogue,” Judy says. “And you will learn from that just by reading it and reading it and going to the next book and finding it because it's there. It's in every novel. There's dialogue.”
3. __Keep your word choice simple__. In a few of her earlier works, Judy did not use the word “said” when writing dialogue. “I decided that I would write this whole novel without ever using he word ‘said,’ that said was such a boring word,” she says. “‘He said.’ ‘She said.’ I had my thesaurus by my side, and my characters did everything but say. My characters exclaimed. They beguiled. And they did everything but say. Throw away your thesaurus when you’re writing.” 
4. __Write realistic voices__. Developing a character’s voice requires observing real-life exchanges and using smart word choices. “It’s a question of capturing the way people talk when they're talking to each other on the street, you know, in the workplace, wherever,” Judy says. “Your characters should each speak as themselves, meaning they are believable and recognizable.”
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Good dialogue in screenwriting, short stories, and dramatic plays pushes the plot forward and captures how real people speak. Learn author Judy Blume’s tips for crafting effective dialogue.

Good dialogue in screenwriting, short stories, and dramatic plays pushes the plot forward and captures how real people speak. Learn author Judy Blume’s tips for crafting effective dialogue.

Judy Blume on How to Write Dialogue

A master at writing compelling dialogue, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/judy-blume-teaches-writing' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/judy-blume-teaches-writing","linkCopy":"Judy Blume","category":null}'>Judy Blume</a> is a beloved author whose bestselling books for younger readers have maintained relevance and impact for generations. Her best-known works include Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Deenie, and Blubber. Judy has also written four novels for adult readers, each one a New York Times bestseller. Judy Blume has won more than 90 literary awards, including the Library of Congress Living Legends Award, the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ E.B. White Award for Lifetime Achievement.

A Brief Introduction to Judy Blume

Dialogue is a spoken exchange between <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-dialogue-between-multiple-characters' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-dialogue-between-multiple-characters","linkCopy":"multiple characters","category":null}'>multiple characters</a> in a play, film, TV show, or another type of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-boost-creativity-and-improve-your-creative-writing' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-boost-creativity-and-improve-your-creative-writing","linkCopy":"creative writing","category":null}'>creative writing</a>. Writing dialogue reveals <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/character-development-questions-to-ask-your-characters' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/character-development-questions-to-ask-your-characters","linkCopy":"character development","category":null}'>character development</a>, speech patterns, and mannerisms, which can also propel the plot forward. Often, authors employ realistic dialogue that captures how specific people speak. Sometimes they use direct dialogue (showing what a character wants), and other times they are rich in <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-subtext' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-subtext","linkCopy":"subtext","category":null}'>subtext</a> (illuminating depth beneath the surface of the exchange).

What Is Dialogue?

Writers use dialogue to express ideas, reveal <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-compelling-conflict' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-compelling-conflict","linkCopy":"conflict","category":null}'>conflict</a>, and move the plot forward. According to author Judy Blume, effective dialogue is also essential to character development. “Dialogue helps you advance your story,” Judy says. “Here&#39;s a scene, and here&#39;s dialogue in the scene. It’s advancing not only your story but your characters because you learn a lot about your characters [through dialogue].”Great dialogue can reveal <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-compelling-character-backstories' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-compelling-character-backstories","linkCopy":"character backstories","category":null}'>character backstories</a> and quickly help introduce them the first time they speak. Characters’ dialogue can also show their inner wants, giving readers a clearer sense of how the story will unfold. As Judy says, “Dialogue helps me know who the characters are.”

The Importance of Dialogue

Dialogue formatting can show verbal exchanges between two characters effectively. Consider these guidelines on how to punctuate dialogue:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Insert quotation marks. Writers should use double <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/when-to-use-quotation-marks-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/when-to-use-quotation-marks-guide","linkCopy":"quotation marks","category":null}'>quotation marks</a> to encase a character’s spoken words. Single quotation marks may appear within dialogue when someone is quoting another. </li><li class="">Place a dialogue tag at the end of a sentence. Writers typically insert a comma at the end of a sentence as a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-dialogue-tags' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-dialogue-tags","linkCopy":"dialogue tag","category":null}'>dialogue tag</a> to denote the speaker (such as: “Let’s eat,” Travis said.). The comma should appear comma before the closing set of quotation marks. </li><li class="">Put closing punctuation after quotation marks. An <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/exclamatory-sentence-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/exclamatory-sentence-guide","linkCopy":"exclamation point","category":null}'>exclamation point</a> or question mark may also appear before the closing quotation marks. </li><li class="">Start a new paragraph. When characters talk back and forth to one another, start a new section each time another character speaks a line of dialogue. </li></ul>Categorically, long speeches are <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-monologue-with-examples' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-monologue-with-examples","linkCopy":"monologues","category":null}'>monologues</a>, while a piece of dialogue implies an exchange of two or more voices back and forth

Dialogue Rules: How to Format Dialogue

Consider the following <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-writing-process' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/spike-lees-writing-process","linkCopy":"writing tips","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>writing tips</a> from Judy Blume on how to craft strong dialogue:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Dialogue breaks up your text. Writers can use dialogue to enliven long blocks of text. “I&#39;ll flip through a book, and if it&#39;s dense, dense, dense, dense, no paragraphs, no dialogue, I don&#39;t want to read it,” Judy says. “But dialogue lightens up your book on the page. You want white space on the page. Dialogue gives you that: playlets, I often put in little playlets in my book; it&#39;s like a little play within a scene.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. To write better dialogue, read more of it. Authors write great dialogue by reading great dialogue. “Reading and reading and reading, you will find what&#39;s good dialogue, what you think is good dialogue, and what you think is wooden and not very good dialogue,” Judy says. “And you will learn from that just by reading it and reading it and going to the next book and finding it because it&#39;s there. It&#39;s in every novel. There&#39;s dialogue.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Keep your word choice simple. In a few of her earlier works, Judy did not use the word “said” when writing dialogue. “I decided that I would write this whole novel without ever using he word ‘said,’ that said was such a boring word,” she says. “‘He said.’ ‘She said.’ I had my thesaurus by my side, and my characters did everything but say. My characters exclaimed. They beguiled. And they did everything but say. Throw away your thesaurus when you’re writing.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Write realistic voices. Developing a character’s voice requires observing real-life exchanges and using smart word choices. “It’s a question of capturing the way people talk when they&#39;re talking to each other on the street, you know, in the workplace, wherever,” Judy says. “Your characters should each speak as themselves, meaning they are believable and recognizable.” </li></ol>

Good dialogue in screenwriting, short stories, and dramatic plays pushes the plot forward and captures how real people speak. Learn author Judy Blume’s tips for crafting effective dialogue.

Good dialogue in screenwriting, short stories, and dramatic plays pushes the plot forward and captures how real people speak. Learn author Judy Blume’s tips for crafting effective dialogue.


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Study Voice Acting & Refine Your Diction

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