Elegance & Relatability

The chapter entitled, “Writing About Yourself”, is something every writer fights to do. In school when a professor forces you to write about certain subject matter, it is often difficult because you feel no passion for it. However, when you get a chance to write about yourself or any subject you like, a careful line must be drawn between ego and egotism. As Zinsser says, ego is imperative because a writer’s confidence in his or her subject matter draws reader’s interest. However, if a writer begins to become egotistic in his or her writing, readers will be instantly turned off to whatever material the writer has chosen to discuss.

Interestingly enough, this is the constant battle most digitally literate writers deal with every time they write a new post. Most people enjoy the ability to connect directly with the writer in an intimate way, whether it is through their similar taste for ravioli or the fact that they both are struggling to raise three kids.

Question: How long will the internet have its time in the spotlight before something bigger and better takes it away?

Zinsser also discusses tonality in the chapter, “The Sound of Your Voice.” These days’ writers are more and more lax with their writing style because it is simply going into the cyber-sphere. For some, this would mean writing should be impeccable, but for most this means they can take on a more “breezy” style of writing. However, from Zinsser’s point of view this style of writing actually takes more work because it is actually harder to read. When a writer uses small words and simplified sentences, it almost seems condescending in a sense.

Although the breezy style of writing is okay for some, I think it is the subject matter of the material that should determine the tone. In all honesty, good English will never go out of style, and to dumb down the writing for readers is actually quite condescending. In my opinion grammar should always be formal, the style should be direct and to the point, and the tone should ultimately have a sense of charm to it.

Question: Do some readers actually prefer the breezy style of writing?

source of image: http://etiquettewithmissjanice.blogspot.com/2013/03/cursive-handwritinga-dying-art.html