What is voice in poetry? It’s a mixture of factors like tone, diction, and style, which combine to create a unique way of writing that belongs to a particular artist. When you think of Shakespearean sonnets, you probably have a voice in mind and are thinking of the iambic pentameter and vernacular he used. While we certainly don’t suggest trying to sound like Shakespeare, we do have some pointers for finding out what works best for you in your verse.