A pitch chart assigns a relative (higher, lower) pitch to each character.

Using the character information that you have built up, assign to each character a relative pitch (sound frequency). All you are trying to do here is say Mary's voice is higher than Sue's voice. John's voice is lower than Bill's voice.

Put this list in one column on one page. If someone appears in the book at more than one age, list him twice, once for each age: John (child) John (adult) and put them into the right slots relative to the other characters.

• Mary (youngster) [highest relative pitch]
• John (youngster)
• Lucy
• Mary (adult)
• Sue
• Tom
• John (adult)
• Bill

When you use this chart, remember that it represents relative pitch, not absolute pitch. All you are trying to do with pitch is make enough of a distinguishable difference so two character voices don't sound the same. Let's assume that there are three male adults in the book, John, Bill, and Tom. John's voice is lower than Bill's, and Bill's voice is lower than Tom's. When John and Bill talk, Bill sounds higher. When Bill and Tom talk, Bill sounds lower.

If you have written in that a character's voice is very low, or very high, you will have to maintain that characteristic. But for normal voices, using the pitch chart during dialogue is all you need.