Using Tone When You Write

Jonathan Franzen shares his thoughts on how to use tone when writing. Jonathan purports if there is not any tone, there is not any writing. I purport, Jonathan Franzen is absolutely correct!

A writer must have a point of view, a special branding of his or her work. Otherwise the story lacks feeling and lacks the individuality of the author. Shakespeare, Neil Simon, Woody Allan, Hemingway, all punctuate their writing with a unique tone. When you read or hear the language, the reader or the audience knows who’s behind the words.

Franzen tells a story of how he hated the writing, the author, of his piece on New York State because he discovered he wrote with no tone. He hated himself! Such self-flagellation: yet so honest. He set the tone of this story right away.

What I especially appreciated in the revealing video below, is Franzen talks about how a writer needs to take risks. If the writer isn’t writing something dangerously, then there is no tone! What does that mean? A few examples he gives are: if you have a sincere subject, then write about it with irony, or if it’s an ironic subject, then write about it sincerely. Step out of your comfort zone, hang from a limb and begin your writing from a completely uncomfortable position.

I practice this viewpoint daily with my writing as well as living my life by the philosophy! You never know what’s around the corner. By being constantly surprised, living in an ever-changing environment, one develops a flexible and open attitude about life. I am never stuck in any one place.

Watch the video below to find out how you can develop your unique tone as a writer.

http://bigthink.com/videos/how-do-you-write-7

Don’t be tone deaf with your writing. Let’s see how individual and unique your special tone can make your new book. After all, the right tone in your writing will be music to your readers’ ears and the ‘key’ to your success!