Hello, my name is Ron Snider.
Today, I will be posting a few lines about writing style.
One of the most frequently asked questions about being a writer is, what are some of the careers in writing?
The three that come to mind are a copywriter, an author, and a technical writer.
What is the job of a Copywriter? Copywriters are marketing professionals who create clear, engaging text for various advertising channels, such as websites, emails, ads, and articles. Their goal is to inform, persuade, and engage audiences. Copywriters can specialize in different areas, such as email marketing, digital marketing, print marketing, blogs, and social media marketing.
What is the job of being an Author? Well, the definition of an author is to create poems and fiction or nonfiction books and short stories. However, they also write research pieces, publish blogs, or develop newspaper columns. They will choose a topic that interests readers and conduct research to provide accurate information. Authors must work to establish credibility through proper sources and citations.
Technical writer: Technical writers develop written manuals, instructions, guides, and resources to explain complex technical concepts to readers in an understandable way.
The three writing jobs I just mentioned all contain something important when it comes to writing, and that is the style of writing, better known as Writing Style.
What Does Writing Style Mean?
Writing style is a writer's voice and tone to convey a story or express an idea. Every writer has their own writing style based on how they use words, their level of formality, sentence structure, and overall approach to the art of writing. A good writer uses different writing styles depending on the text's purpose. For example, blogging is casual, while business writing requires more formal language.
*There are four types of Writing Styles
These different types are differentiated by their purpose. Writers will use one of these general styles while also incorporating their own personal style into their piece:
The first one is explanatory writing: An explanatory writing style is used to deliver facts and information rather than storytelling. Examples of explanatory writing include nonfiction books, scientific writing, technical writing, and news articles.
The second one is called descriptive writing: A descriptive style uses figurative language and sensory details to paint a picture in a reader’s mind. Poets use this type of writing style in their work.
The third one is called narrative writing. Narrative style has a plot, characters, and setting and is used in creative writing. It is the style writers use to craft a novel, novella, or screenplay. Examples of narrative writing style include Ernest Hemingway’s short story “The Old Man and the Sea” and The Shining by Stephen King.
The fourth one is called persuasive writing: A persuasive writing style tries to influence readers to adopt the writer’s point of view. Examples of persuasive writing include letters of recommendation, academic writing, and cover letters.
*There are eight tips for Improving your writing style
To be a better writer, you need to know how to be direct and clear while also putting your stamp on your writing. Follow these eight writing tips for improving your style:
Number one: Be direct in your writing. Good writing is clear and concise. Lose filler words, like unnecessary adverbs and prepositional phrases, simply take up space and weigh a sentence down. Say exactly what you mean in the most direct way.
Number two: Choose your words wisely. There are many ways to write a sentence, and there are different words you can choose to convey the same idea. Always choose the simpler of two words. Use familiar vocabulary instead of lofty words from the English language. Simple words are more direct and easier for all readers to understand. Use a thesaurus if you need a little help finding a replacement or an easier way to say something. I always use a thesaurus; to a writer, it is your best friend.
Number three: Short sentences are more powerful than long sentences. A story loses steam with wordiness. Short sentences are more accessible to comprehend, something that readers appreciate. Avoid trying to pack too much into a line. Every sentence should contain one thought or idea.
Number four: Write short paragraphs. Keep your paragraphs short and manageable. Each one should consist of sentences that support the same idea. Short paragraphs are easier to digest. They also create a more visually appealing layout on the page. Academic writing often consists of lengthier paragraphs, as they need more information to support each theme. In less formal writing, shorter paragraphs are the norm.
Number five: Always use the active voice. Use the active voice and adhere to subject-verb-object sentence structure. It’s the most direct path to making your point. With the active voice, the subject is doing something more exciting than the passive voice, in which something is being done to the subject. The passive voice might be grammatically correct, but it creates long, complex sentences and is a weaker way of presenting information.
Number six: Review and edit your work. Proofreading your first draft should be the first step in your editing process before you hand your story over to a professional editor. Tighten your writing, check your word choice and sentence structure, and hone your voice to improve your style.
Number seven: Use a natural, conversational tone. Your writing style relies on your own unique voice. Communicate in your comfort zone. In other words, write like you converse. Shape ideas with your original thoughts and voice, and do your best to avoid clichés. Your writing style should reflect your personality.
Number eight: Read famous authors. Pick up any book by Mark Twain, and you’ll know it’s his writing simply by the story's tone and the words he uses. Great writers put a stamp on their writing with a signature style. Along with works of fiction, read Strunk and White’s famous style guide, ''The Elements of Style.'' Learning how other writers create their style. Then, do the same with your own writing.
Earlier, I talked about three writing careers: copywriting, being an author, and technical writing. However, there are more exciting careers in the field of writing.
There are Biographers who write a thorough account of a person’s life. They gather information from interviews and research about the person to accurately describe important life events.
There are Content writers who write about any topic of interest, unlike writers who usually specialize in a given field.
There are Playwrights who write scripts for theatrical productions. They develop a concept, write lines for actors to say, produce stage directions for actors to follow, and suggest ideas for theatrical set design.
There are Screenwriters who create scripts for movies and television. They may produce original stories, characters, and dialogue or adapt a book into a movie or television script.
There are Speechwriters who compose speeches for business leaders, politicians, and others who must speak in front of an audience. Because speeches are often live, speechwriters must consider the audience's effect.
There are Bloggers who write posts to a Weblog, called a (blog) that may pertain to any topic or a specific field, such as fashion, news, or sports.
Now, my friends, we have come to the end of this blog. I appreciate you taking the time to read what I have written. This is Ron Snider. See you next time.
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