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Understanding Writing Styles

This article will help you understand which writing style is most suitable for your book.

Landon avatar
Written by Landon
Updated over a week ago

Overview

This article helps you understand which writing style is most suitable for your book. Publishing.ai offers a range of writing styles with the freedom to choose more than one style for your manuscript.

Key Benefits:

  • Multiple writing style options available

  • Flexibility to combine different styles

  • Guidance for selecting appropriate styles by genre


Writing Style Categories


Writing styles are organized into three main categories that determine how your content is presented to readers.

Tone - How the Writing Feels

The tone determines the overall feel of your book. Your book's tone refers to the stylistic voice of your manuscript. This portrays your perspective as an author, conveys emotions, and creates your book's intended impact on your audience.

Formal

Formal writing style is characterized by a professional tone and precise word choice.

Key Features:

  • Professional tone

  • Precise word choice

  • Avoids contractions, slang, and colloquialisms

  • Used in business, academic, and official communications

Common Niches:

  • Business and Finance

  • Science

  • Technology

Informal

Informal writing style is more relaxed and conversational.

Key Features:

  • Relaxed and conversational approach

  • Includes contractions and colloquial language

  • More personal tone

  • Typically used among friends and in casual business communications

  • Common for younger audiences

Common Niches:

  • Personal Development

  • Teens and Young Adults

  • Creative skills such as Knitting or Pottery

Serious

Serious writing style is straightforward and avoids humor or frivolity.

Key Features:

  • Straightforward approach

  • Avoids humor or frivolity

  • Conveys important information effectively

  • Used in formal reports

  • Appropriate when discussing topics where light-heartedness would be inappropriate

Common Niches:

  • Psychology

  • Health

  • Medicine

Humorous

Humorous writing style employs wit, jokes, and sometimes satire.

Key Features:

  • Uses wit, jokes, and satire

  • Engages readers effectively

  • Makes challenging topics more accessible

  • Requires understanding of audience (humor is subjective)

Common Niches:

  • Entertainment

  • Topics dealing with everyday life in a comedic way (Parenting or Work)

  • Books for Kids or Teens


Perspective - Point of View & Approach


Perspective determines how you approach your subject matter and connect with your readers.

Open/Vulnerable

Open/Vulnerable writing style is characterized by sharing personal experiences and emotions.

Key Features:

  • Shares personal experiences and emotions

  • Creates transparency with readers

  • Builds trust with audience

  • Demonstrates authenticity

Common Niches:

  • Niches that deep dive into personal stories

  • Life Coaching

  • Memory Improvement

Personal

Personal writing style uses a conversational and intimate approach.

Key Features:

  • Conversational and intimate approach

  • Similar to sitting down for coffee with the reader

  • Authors share experiences, reflections, and insights directly

  • Relatable tone

  • Uses personal anecdotes to engage audience and illustrate points

Common Niches:

  • Relationships or Dating Advice

  • Motivational Books

  • Addiction and Recovery

Narrative

Narrative writing style focuses on telling a story.

Key Features:

  • Focuses on storytelling

  • Often includes characters and settings

  • Uses short stories and anecdotes in nonfiction categories

  • Engages readers through story structure

Common Niches:

  • Historical Books for Adults

  • Educational Guides for Kids and Young Adults

  • Cultural and Social

  • Personal Development


Manner - How Content is Delivered


Manner determines the approach you use to deliver your content to readers.

Authoritative

Authoritative writing style conveys confidence and expertise.

Key Features:

  • Conveys confidence and expertise

  • Assertive and direct approach

  • Used by experts when providing advice or instructions

  • Establishes credibility

Common Niches:

  • Investing and Money

  • Technology and Computer Related

Supportive/Empathetic

Supportive/Empathetic writing style focuses on understanding and reflecting the reader's feelings.

Key Features:

  • Understanding and reflecting reader's feelings

  • Encouraging approach

  • Aimed at building rapport with audience

  • Creates emotional connection

Common Niches:

  • Self-Help

  • Motivational

  • Health and Wellness

  • Counseling

  • Faith-based

Friendly Casual

Friendly Casual writing style emphasizes warmth and friendliness.

Key Features:

  • Similar to informal style with emphasis on warmth

  • Like having a conversation with a friend

  • Personal, inviting, and engaging

  • Creates comfortable reading experience

Common Niches:

  • Travel Guides

  • Hobby Books

  • Children's Learning

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