In a Zoom call for ‘fit’ I once talked to someone who asked me ‘what’s your tone of voice?’ for writing. I replied, ‘the question is, what’s yours?’ but I don’t think she got it. If you are not a niche specialist writer, you are going to write in a whole range of sectors and styles, to be a chameleon of articulation to blend into the tribe culture you are writing for. I’ve worked on snowboarding magazines and science journals, I don’t need to show you the gulf of difference in communication to illustrate that, you get it. It takes a certain type of projection and empathy, it takes reading what they read, understanding what’s okay and not, language parameters and styling.
Reading widely and different styles, is incredibly important, as is talking to your audiences, experiencing the culture and communication. The greatest gift journalism gives you as a career is that it takes you to places and you meet people from all walks of life. It gives you the tools to transcend your own bias to be your audience when needed.
Picture: Networking with business owners at VARNFEST 22.
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