What Kind Of Writing Do You Wear?

Phil Tanny · 10-17-2011, 01:13 AM

Where are we as writers in relationship to what readers expect?

As a way to begin exploring this question, we might turn our attention to the subject of fashion for a moment.

Let's imagine that three webmasters are going to an internet marketing convention. What should they wear?

- The first webmaster wears a casual business suit.

- The second webmaster wears a casual business suit, with a loud tie.

- The third webmaster wears a clown costume.

Each webmaster has positioned themselves at a different place in regards to the fashion group consensus.

The webmaster wearing the casual business suit looks professional. They've played it safe. Their attire won't get them in trouble, but it won't get them noticed either.

The webmaster with the loud tie has taken a little step away from the fashion group consensus. The loud tie probably won't get them in trouble, but will it get them noticed? Maybe.

The webmaster in the clown costume is going for broke. Every time there is a round of applause this webmaster stands up and honks the clown horn that is part of his outfit. HONK, HONK!

Attendees may question the sanity of this webmaster, but this is the one webmaster they are sure to remember.

So let's leave the world of fashion now, and return to writing.

Where are we as writers in relationship to what readers expect?

If we give readers what they are used to, what they expect to see, in the way they expect to see it, nobody is going to laugh at us. Phew!

But, now we look just like millions of other web writers, so rising above the endless ocean of web content to be noticed and remembered becomes quite challenging, perhaps impossible.

If we instead challenge the group consensus, and say things readers don't expect to see, and say it in a way they aren't used to, our chances of being noticed and remembered go way up.

But now some of our readers are mad at us, some think we're an idiot, and some have no idea what the devil we're talking about. The rest of the readers may become big fans.

Where is our writing in relationship to the group consensus of our market?

We might propose that...

- Like most other mediums, the web is basically show business and...

- If we don't put on some kind of show, we won't get noticed and...

- If we don't get noticed, it doesn't matter that much what we're saying because...

- Few people are actually listening.

What say you fellow web writers?

jrlsolutions · 10-19-2011, 02:38 AM

Wow. Okay well this definitely has much merit, however, just like in our world, some voices are given notice simply for what or who they are as opposed to how fantastically unique and compelling their creations are. So while I have seen some phenomenal bloggers go totally viral because they have chosen the perfect voice and hit on all the high notes to generate more viewers and avid fans, as a content business owner and editor, I am also constantly phenomenally surprised at how much talent is lost in the cracks of the internet simply because some fantastic writers have no idea how to aggregate themselves on the net.

Phil Tanny · 10-19-2011, 10:27 AM

Hi Joy,

Well, I don't know that I'm a fantastic writer, but it's close to true that I have no idea how to aggregate myself on the net.

If your time permits, I hope you'll share your insights in to that. Thanks!

Phil