Style can also be associated with voice. Voice is something that is hard to pin down, but one way to think about it is your idiosyncratic patterns that are unique to how you speak and write. Audiences will always expect things in specific rhetorical situations (see previous Learning Module 1!), but if they know you, they might also expect ways of speaking and writing from you.
Your voice might be kind of natural and it might change depending on the rhetorical situation (e.g., think of how you speak and write in various different contexts to older family members vs. co-workers vs. friends vs. strangers). Your voice might have shared attributes across rhetorical situations, but it really is very difficult to suggest there is something easily identifiable as Your Voice.
So, style absolutely has to do with audience. But don’t get too wrapped up in writing 100% for your audience. Another part of the rhetorical situation is called the exigence, sometimes called the purpose (exigence usually relates more to a shared problem or issue that calls someone to write whereas purpose is a bit more singular). It is about what you want to do, about what you feel is right in terms of what you say in response to what calls you to speak or write.
What are the patterns, repetitions, and disruptions of words, sentences, paragraphing, etc. that make the most sense for your exigence/purpose? What feels right to YOU.
Three reasons why this is important:
- It’s your writing, and sometimes audiences need to receive information in ways that they might not be comfortable receiving. Sometimes something comforting is easy to forget or ignore.
- It is sometimes not possible to know how an audience will receive something. We can’t know until you try something. You know a lot, but you might not know for sure how an audience will receive what you say. Sometimes it might be better to write something in the best way you think rather than worry a lot about how an audience might best receive it.
- Sometimes you just wanna write what you wanna write, even if you have an audience besides yourself. So, just do what you wanna do.
Has anyone ever made a comment about your “voice” or “style” in your writing or speaking? Do you have a perspective on the kind of “voice” you have as a writer? In 30-50 words, comment below in response to these questions.
After commenting below, click on the “Click here to continue” button to go to the next module page.
I noticed in my own writing that when I’m in the flow of writing the piece almost the whole way through, I tend to write as if I’m transcribing how I would speak. Then I rework it if it’s too awkward to read, but I feel that the writing comes out more naturally that way. Also, when reading from a solo perspective, I will usually read it with my own voice in my head.
I think that whenever I’m writing, it always feels easier for me to write about my experiences and feelings on a specific topic. So I would say that my style probably tends toward the anecdotal and emotional side.
In my writing, I tend to enjoy writing more than I need to explain a point and sometimes this ends up being too much, in person, I tend to be more reserved, but in my writing I would like for the reader to be indulged in the story and to have all the information they need.
When I write I tend to incorporate a lot of my voice and style into my writings. I do this because I like to write passionately, and in the past teachers have told me to use my voice less for specific assignments. I like to think I have a strong voice as a writer and want to influence my readers as much as possible.
There is two types of scenarios in my writing; one when everything comes naturally at me and I connect with the topic so I just keep typing mostly unstopped, and the other one where I just dont connect to the topic of my wrting and you can notice how forcefully writen it was.
Much of my writing style is write with the flow. I write as it comes to me. However, my writer’s voice has been described as “too deep” and difficult to understand. When I write I am never certain that anyone can understand it or if my intended audience will grasp what I’m trying to say. But I like to think of writing as an act of giving permance to my ideas rather than reaching out to others.
I believe that my voice is an expression of my experiences and personality because I usually find it easier to write about myself as opposed to writing about a different topic.
When I write I find it easier for me to write about facts and concrete ideas with statistics behind them. My “writing style” is very straightforward and uses a lot of facts, quotes, and stats.
In the past teachers have made comments on my writing explaining that the voice seemed in-genuine and I wasn’t really showing individuality in my writing. I think that my preference of my voice as a writer to to write how I would speak but in certain scenarios of writing voice cannot really be my preference.
I’m not sure of my style of writing, actually. I tend to write how I speak in less-restricted projects, but most of the time I try to write as formally as I can.
I think that when I write, I try to emulate how I speak as best as I can. I definitely prefer speaking over writing, so when I write, I try to make it sound like I am talking to my audience.
When I write, I would say I am much more vulnerable than in person. When I speak with others, I do not reveal much about my emotions or personal experiences. When I write, it is the complete opposite. I enjoy sharing my own experiences and being completely open to others. I like sharing a connection with others through my writing.