Trying New Writing Styles
I started taking a class with Mediabistro.com. How to write for the glossy women’s magazines. I find it fascinating, and terrific fun. I hope to branch out to doing more, different kinds of writing, working freelance for glossy magazines. I am learning how to research stories and pitch them, and getting more comfortable with interviewing.
I think the most interesting part of the class, though, is the attention to writing style. Julia, the instructor, describes the style for women’s magazine writing as “girlfriend to girlfriend.” She notes that women’s magazine editors will reword, or omit big, weighty vocab words in favor of more streamlined, accessible prose.
While I’m having tremendous fun exploring a range of features topics, I also notice that the biggest challenge, and the greatest resource so far, is that attention to writing style. I would like to pick up more of the elements of women’s magazine easygoing, accessible prose. I hope that it makes my own writing clearer and more conversational. I do read a range of women’s magazines (now with a more critical and curious eye) and I do notice how accessible and interesting the language makes the topics.
I’ve stopped by from the Just Write blog carnival–your description of trying on a new writing style resonates with me! A few months ago, a design agency contracted me as the writer for a brochure they were designing. The tone and voice of the piece was to be edgy and sassy. I had to immerse myself in samples to get the cadence and pick up the tone. It was so challenging, but one of the most enjoyable projects I’ve done in some time. Hope your venture into girlfriend-talk goes well for you!