|
|
 |
|
|
Finding Your Voice As A Writer by Dennis Murphy
|
|
|
Finding Your Voice As A Writer |
|
|
|
|
|
Education
|
|
|
A common topic of conversation among writers is the finding of one's "voice," a writing style that best expresses both the information presented and the personality of the writer. There is no single or "right" style for writing. However, there are styles that work better than others for certain types of writing. And there are styles that will work better for you than others. So how do you figure out the color of your writing style? First, by doing a lot of writing. Second, by getting feedback from reviewers of your writing. And third, by doing a lot more writing. The more you write, the better able you are to "hear" your own voice in your words, and the more comfortable you will become with your own style. So, want to find your "voice?" Then write, write, and write. That said, there are some rules of thumb to keep in mind while you are on the journey of "style discovery." These rules apply regardless of whether you are writing intricate fiction or straightforward technical prose. But one note: Apply these guidelines after you've written a first draft. First drafts are meant for capturing the gist of what you want to say, and need to be allowed to flow without a lot of mental editing. Once you have that first document, you can use these guidelines to hone the writing style and tighten up the prose. Say what you mean. The most important objective in writing, especially writing non-fiction, is to get your point across. Write exactly what you mean and deliver your information in logical order. Say it in the appropriate tone. Your tone will depend on your personality, your material and your audience. You must find the right point in the continuum between "desert dry" prose and "flowery" text, and the best way to do that is to think like your target reader. The conversational tone taken in these newsletter articles, for example, might not be right for your audience. On the other hand, it might be too stilted! When in doubt, go for the conservative side-you can always loosen up a little when you edit. Watch wordiness. When we talk, we commonly use filler words that don't add to the meaning what we're saying. It is easy to do the same thing with writing, especially if you're not sure what you want or have to say. Go easy on the adjectives, articles, and other extra words. Reword cliches. It's okay to use cliches when you are preparing your first draft. They spring easily to mind and serve as short cuts for what we want to say. When you comb back through your draft, though, be ruthless about identifying the cliches you have used and find other ways to express what you want to say. Don't say "metropolis" when you can say "city." Another common writing style blunder is using large words when simpler ones will work just fine. Again, don't worry about this when preparing the first draft; go back when editing and simplify intricate words and phrases. Using these guidelines will eliminate noise in your writing so that you can hear the voice of your prose. Once you can hear your voice, you can develop it further or adjust it to better fit your reader. dissertation writing
Related Articles -
Finding, Your, Voice,
|
Rate This Article  |
|
|
|
|
|
Do you Agree or Disagree? Have a Comment? POST IT!
| Reader Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Author Login |
|
|
 |
Advertiser Login
ADVERTISE HERE NOW!
Limited Time $60 Offer!
90 Days-1.5 Million Views
|
|
TIM FAY
After 60-plus years of living, I am just trying to pass down some of the information that I have lea...more
|
|
|
|
|
LAURA JEEVES
At LeadGenerators, we specialise in content-led Online Marketing Strategies for our clients in the t...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEPHEN BYE
Steve Bye is currently a fiction writer, who published his first novel, ‘Looking Forward Through the...more
|
|
|
|
|
GENE MYERS
Author of four books and two screenplays; frequent magazine contributor. I have four other books "in...more
|
|
|
|
|
ALEX BELSEY
I am the editor of QUAY Magazine, a B2B publication based in the South West of the UK. I am also the...more
|
|
|
|
|
SUSAN FRIESEN
Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, ...more
|
|
|
|
|
SHALINI MITTAL
A postgraduate in Fashion Technology. Shalini is a writer at heart! Writing for her is an expression...more
|
|
|
|
|
ADRIAN JOELE
I have been involved in nutrition and weight management for over 12 years and I like to share my kn...more
|
|
|
|
|
JAMES KENNY
James is a Research Enthusiast that focuses on the understanding of how things work and can be impro...more
|
|
|
|
