My Approach to Writing
I see every piece of writing as a specialized form of communication, just like a language. If I'm to communicate effectively with my audience, I must use the right language.
Like a language, each type of writing has its own, unique form. Syntax, diction and vocabulary combine to give each type--from journalism to technical writing, from marketing communications to poetry--its distinct cadence and tone.
Within each type of writing are different styles of expression. Like different dialects of a language, or different accents, these vary. They are determined by the topic, the needs and expectations of the audience, and by the purpose of the publication or class. For instance, an inexperienced 20-year old and a green-thumbed 70-year old might both enjoy reading an article about container-gardening on an apartment balcony, but since each speaks a different style of the language, an article written with the needs of one in mind would not communicate very effectively with the other.
Finally, and obviously, every language is spoken by many people. In ultra-small societies numbering only a few hundred, to nations with populations in the millions, native speakers of a language follow the same linguistic rules their peers do. Yet the vast majority still manage to put something uniquely their own into their speech patterns. It may be nothing more than a preference for a certain type of sentence construction. It may be just the hint of an inflection on certain words. The majority likely don't even know they're doing it, but to a linguist, it's enough to distinguish the speaker's voice from his or her peers.
When I begin a project, I first identify the audience, which tells me the language I must speak. Next, I consider the topic or subject matter, the needs and expectations of my audience, and the purpose of the article, document or course content. I aim to put something special into every project. Sometimes, just the hint of an inflection is all that's appropriate. Sometimes, that's all it needs.
As a writer, I "speak" many dialects. I'm not much of a hard news reporter, but I enjoy researching and writing features, profiles, and service pieces for trade and consumer magazines. I can switch to marketing communications when necessary, or public and media relations. Since I prefer to teach, rather than to sell, I'm most at ease as a technical writer or workshop facilitator, when I can translate specialized information for a lay audience, help someone make sense of an unfamiliar concept, or guide someone through a complex procedure or task.
My poetry is rudimentary at best and I don't speak literary fiction at all.
