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Begin · Chapter 39
Voice & Persona
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Your voice is your fingerprint—the accumulation of word choice, syntax, rhythm, and perspective. Some poets sound formal (T.S. Eliot). Others sound confessional (Sharon Olds). Develop your voice by writing consistently and letting natural rhythms emerge.
A persona is a mask—a character speaking the poem. First-person doesn't mean it's you. When Plath writes "I am a camera," she's not literally a camera—she's inhabiting a persona that lets her explore detachment. The persona gives freedom to say things your actual self might fear. But underneath, your voice should still be recognizable.
Build your voice by reading poets who thrill you. What are they doing? Fast or slow lines? Concrete or abstract? Formal or colloquial?