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The Sound of Story: Developing Voice and Tone in Writing
Voice in writing can seem elusive and hard to define. It’s more than just style—it’s rhythm, energy, attitude, and the unique fingerprint of a narrator or character. Voice is shaped by culture and history as much as the mechanics of language.
In The Sound of Story, author and writing teacher Jordan Rosenfeld demystifies voice and its close companion, tone, offering writers the tools to develop and refine their own. Through contemporary examples, this book explores how syntax, point of view, and emotion (to name a few) shape voice on the page.
Whether you’re crafting fiction or nonfiction, this book will help you shape and refine voice to create compelling, authentic narratives. The Sound of Story empowers writers to wield voice and tone with purpose, increasing their chances of publication, yes, but delivering the optimum story for readers.
In The Sound of Story, author and writing teacher Jordan Rosenfeld demystifies voice and its close companion, tone, offering writers the tools to develop and refine their own. Through contemporary examples, this book explores how syntax, point of view, and emotion (to name a few) shape voice on the page.
Whether you’re crafting fiction or nonfiction, this book will help you shape and refine voice to create compelling, authentic narratives. The Sound of Story empowers writers to wield voice and tone with purpose, increasing their chances of publication, yes, but delivering the optimum story for readers.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
408 pages, Paperback
Published January 26, 2026
1 person is currently reading
2214 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Rosenfeld
18 books376 followersJordan Rosenfeld is author of the novels Fallout, Women in Red and Forged in Grace and seven books on the craft of writing, including the brand new Sound of Story: Developing Voice and Tone in Writing, How to Write a Page-Turner, the bestselling Make a Scene, Writing the Intimate Character, A Writer’s Guide to Persistence, Writing Deep Scenes and Write Free. Her freelance writing has been published in hundreds of publications, including: The Atlantic, The New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, Salon, Scientific American, The Rumpus, Writer’s Digest Magazine, The Washington Post and many more. She is also a freelance manuscript editor, writing coach and teaches online classes. Jordanrosenfeld.net. She blogs about midlife, creativity and writing at the Substack "Writing In the Pause."
Jordan holds an MFA in Fiction and Literature from the Bennington Writing Seminars, and a BA from the Hutchins School at Sonoma State University. Her essays and stories have appeared in literary journals such as the Blue Moon Review, Night Train, the Pedastal Magazine, Pindeldyboz, Opium, LitPot, Smokelong Quarterly, Spoiled Ink, the Summerset Review, Void Magazine, Zaum and in literary anthologies. Her fiction has also been performed by actors as part of the Page on Stage project in Santa Rosa.
For three years, Jordan hosted the literary radio program Word by Word: Conversations with Writers, which received an NEA Chairman’s grant for literary projects in 2005, on NPR-affiliate KRCB radio. She interviewed authors such as T.C. Boyle, Aimee Bender, Louise Erdrich, and Mary Gaitskill.
Jordan holds an MFA in Fiction and Literature from the Bennington Writing Seminars, and a BA from the Hutchins School at Sonoma State University. Her essays and stories have appeared in literary journals such as the Blue Moon Review, Night Train, the Pedastal Magazine, Pindeldyboz, Opium, LitPot, Smokelong Quarterly, Spoiled Ink, the Summerset Review, Void Magazine, Zaum and in literary anthologies. Her fiction has also been performed by actors as part of the Page on Stage project in Santa Rosa.
For three years, Jordan hosted the literary radio program Word by Word: Conversations with Writers, which received an NEA Chairman’s grant for literary projects in 2005, on NPR-affiliate KRCB radio. She interviewed authors such as T.C. Boyle, Aimee Bender, Louise Erdrich, and Mary Gaitskill.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 28, 2026
Jordan Rosenfeld is the author of numerous craft books, but this is by far my favorite. I was lucky to be an early reader of the manuscript and it was such fun to read. The varied examples from an array of contemporary reads allows for concrete modeling in each section followed by several writing prompts if you choose to try your hand at it. Rosenfeld has an impressively granular knowledge of her subject, but like your favorite professor, manages to make it comprehensive and digestible. The examples from books you've read and loved (and even some you haven't) combined with Jordan's own voice, which is very "talking to your best friend at book club" accessible, creates a fun, very readable craft book that doesn't feel like work (as so many do!). She is insightful, thoughtful, and her prompts are actually useful. You'll think of voice and development in a new way. I also appreciate that Jordan includes thoughtful discussion about influences of social, emotional, regional, geographical, racial, orientation, and more. Plus, you walk away with a new TBR list! Good for new and seasoned writers!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sibyl Writing Craft provided an early galley for review.
Voice and tone are things I don't tend to initially think about when I am writing fiction. They often end up being a by-product that comes out of my plots and dialogue. So, a book like Rosenfeld's is good at helping me think about those aspects earlier in my process. I can see voice being especially important when chosing a first-person narrative point of view. If your main character is telling the story, a unique voice is very critical to make the book sing properly.
I apperciate how each chapter is layed out, especially with the In Summary and Voice Lessons (Writing Exercises) at the back of each one to help tie it all together. This was a good approach for the subject matter.
Overall, I found these instructions delivered in an informative and not overly academic way. Writers will definitely get some good pointers from this book.
Voice and tone are things I don't tend to initially think about when I am writing fiction. They often end up being a by-product that comes out of my plots and dialogue. So, a book like Rosenfeld's is good at helping me think about those aspects earlier in my process. I can see voice being especially important when chosing a first-person narrative point of view. If your main character is telling the story, a unique voice is very critical to make the book sing properly.
I apperciate how each chapter is layed out, especially with the In Summary and Voice Lessons (Writing Exercises) at the back of each one to help tie it all together. This was a good approach for the subject matter.
Overall, I found these instructions delivered in an informative and not overly academic way. Writers will definitely get some good pointers from this book.
January 26, 2026
Jordan Rosenfeld’s The Sound of Story: Developing Voice and Tone in Writing. For me, as both a writer and reader, voice and tone are number one. And for as long as I live, my voice and tone will always be in development—on and off the page.
A life-affirming book that helps writers nurture their emotional intelligence—readers, too (worth your time for behind-the-scenes analysis of how fiction and non-fiction books are crafted that can help deepen your reading skills and insight).
Like her other books on writing craft, Rosenfeld is gifted at offering reflection, POV analysis, tools, and sentence-level examples that writers of all levels can put into action to help them develop and nurture their voice and tone. An insightful guide into how voice and tone figures into powerful storytelling.
A life-affirming book that helps writers nurture their emotional intelligence—readers, too (worth your time for behind-the-scenes analysis of how fiction and non-fiction books are crafted that can help deepen your reading skills and insight).
Like her other books on writing craft, Rosenfeld is gifted at offering reflection, POV analysis, tools, and sentence-level examples that writers of all levels can put into action to help them develop and nurture their voice and tone. An insightful guide into how voice and tone figures into powerful storytelling.
January 31, 2026
This is a great resource for writers. It’s full of advice for voice in your prose, and wonderful examples of “voicey” writing (it’s gotten me to add some books to my TBR!). Sometimes the advice feels a little elementary (e.g., about figurative language), but that just means the book is approachable, so anyone can get something out of it! This is a fabulous, comprehensive resource complete with writing exercises to try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sibyl Writing Craft for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions.
Content notes: some example passages contain content with trigger warnings at the beginning Some readers might feel bothered by occasional political-esque comments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sibyl Writing Craft for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions.
Content notes: some example passages contain content with trigger warnings at the beginning Some readers might feel bothered by occasional political-esque comments.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THE SOUND OF STORY by Jordan Rosenfeld. This how-to book was a comprehensive but completely approachable guide to developing and using voice to perfect your writing. It covers fiction, memoir and non-fiction. Writers have to develop and apply their own voice, and grasp what a specific voice can add to their work. Being on the intangible side of the spectrum that comprises the elements of craft, it’s not easy for this novice.
A couple of the topics of particular interest to me included narrative voice vs character voice and the section on code switching. I found the writing clear and the examples excellent. Highly recommended for all my writer pals.
I read this book courtesy of the author, the publisher @sibyllinepress and @netgalley. Thank you. Opinions are my own.
A couple of the topics of particular interest to me included narrative voice vs character voice and the section on code switching. I found the writing clear and the examples excellent. Highly recommended for all my writer pals.
I read this book courtesy of the author, the publisher @sibyllinepress and @netgalley. Thank you. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Have you struggled with voice and tone in your writing? If so, this is the book for you!
This book helps writers learn more about ways to differentiate voice for characters, refine their voice in writing, choose words that fit the tone of their writing, and more. There are analyses of various examples, writing exercises, and more.
I learned a lot from this book, and the exercises helped me think more deeply about my current WIPs.
This book helps writers learn more about ways to differentiate voice for characters, refine their voice in writing, choose words that fit the tone of their writing, and more. There are analyses of various examples, writing exercises, and more.
I learned a lot from this book, and the exercises helped me think more deeply about my current WIPs.
February 5, 2026
Not a lot of craft books centered around the topic of voice. Impressed with how much was pulled in for talking about a topic that is normally not given a lot of attention. Voice can be so finicky, so I appreciated the depth in this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews