Question about a character's voice shift over a long project

I just finished the first draft of a novel I've been writing for about two years. The main character, a detective named Mara, started out with this really sharp, cynical voice in the early chapters. But looking back at the last few chapters I wrote, she's become way more thoughtful and quiet, almost like a different person. I didn't plan this change at all. It happened so slowly I didn't even notice until I read the whole thing start to finish last week. I think maybe living with her in my head for so long, and putting her through the story's events, just softened her edges without me meaning to do it. Now I'm stuck wondering if I need to go back and rewrite the beginning to match the ending, or if this kind of unplanned change can actually work for the story. Has anyone else had a character's voice drift on them over a long writing time?

3 comments

3 Comments

robert_hayes1d ago

Check if the change lines up with her arc. If she went through hell and came out softer, that's good writing. Might just need to tweak a few early lines to hint at the person she'll become.

benlewis14d ago

That drift sounds like real character growth to me.

casey_lane7314d ago

Oh wow, character growth, sure. Next you'll tell me my car's weird engine noise is just it "finding its voice." Sounds more like the plot fell apart and they're calling it a feature. Classic move, really. Give the writers a gold star for trying to sell us on that.