Writing Styles Set the Writing Tone

I was interviewed for a position about content writing not too long ago. They told me that my “writing style” was just what they were looking for. As I put away my portfolio that I had brought to the interview, I started to wonder about my writing style. I sat down with said portfolio and began to slowly look through it. Each piece of work I have has a different writing tone which was dictated based on the writing style called for by a particular client. I pride myself on being able to write for any industry in any style that the client dictates.

Writing Styles

Here is a top 5 list of general writing styles I have seen and/or used:

• Technical Business - usually business processes or white papers detailing what a client or internal staff needs to know in order to perform their daily, weekly, or monthly assignments.
• Online Help Systems – usually task oriented, but over the years as single sourcing became a more reliable feature, included training material and business processes.
• End User Manuals – paper based manuals that users in the field use for a quick “how-to” approach.
• Web Content – aka Niche Content. Content uniquely created for a business based on the products and services being sold. This can be very serious or very relaxed depending on the business and/or owner.
• Article Writing – articulate, brief, clear (ABC). Tends to be more serious so that the author comes across as an expert even if they hired a ghost writer.

Each style listed dictates it’s own tone. The Online Help Systems tend to be more conversational, whereas the End User Manuals have a more instructional tone. Another huge factor in tone, is what the client and their target audience wants.

Writing Tone

I find that the writing tone is often dictated by the style chosen, but the client and their audience are a close second. To find and strike the right tone you must pay careful attention to the client. This means everything from listening to your potential boss-to-be to reading articles or manuals that they have on hand. Don’t be afraid to ask for a sample of what they want written or in some cases updated.

Client Tone

Here are some of my suggestions when you try to figure out the clients tone.

1. Read what they have had written before.
2. Ask questions:
   • Is this the same style and tone they want OR are they looking for a more modern conversational style?
   • Are the previous materials a good length?
   • Do they have enough screen shots or examples?
   • How creative can you get with the screen shots and examples (i.e., Can you use celebrity names or should you stick to realistic people?)
3. Listen to your client as he/she speaks. No, seriously, listen to them. Don’t plan on what you are going to say next to impress the client with your knowledge or your “Great design idea” that you miss what they are saying. Listen to how they talk. Are they slow and meticulous in what they are saying? Are they speaking conversationally? Are they using big words or everyday jargon?

Writer Tone

It amazes me the things that we lose over time. I have been writing a long long time. Maybe I’m old school, maybe I have been taught old fashion manners, but whatever the case, there are certain things that are common knowledge to me that I do not always see in the younger generation of writers. I have adapted to the time as things change, and they are always changing, hence you will see on my site a portfolio page. This shows a lot of my work and as I find time, I keep adding more pieces to the page(s).

What I find odd is that today’s writer has only an online portfolio. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to  a client’s office for an interview and brought a paper sample of my writing and hear “Wow, I’ve been doing interviews for a week and your the only one (or only the second or third one) to bring in writing samples.”

To me this enhances my chance of landing a job, not because I have paper samples to show the client, but so they can remember my writing style and tone as we are discussing their writing needs and goals.

The tone I’m setting is: I’m here, I want to write. This is who I am and my writing style.

I have been a writer all my life. I have written for big corporations and small business. I have written for a variety of industries from insurance to mortgages to pharmaceuticals.  You can specialize in a particular niche, many writers do and do so well, however, I like having a bigger base to write for. I find that writing for more than one industry or niche helps improve my writing style in another area.

So, are you a writer? What styles do you use? Do you find your style dictates your writing tone or vice versa?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Freelance Writers: Should You Be Blogging? (danaprince.blogspot.com)
• Want to be a Better Writer? Get Your Ego Out of the Way(copyblogger.com)
• Article Marketing – Use It To Sell Your Writing(marketersdaily.com)