Quick question for Article writers and Copywriters...

6 replies
Hi,

I know for a fact that some of you great writers and salesman never walk on over to the copywriting forum, so I'd like just a few seconds of your time, ok?

Great.

The question is...

How do you transfer tone of voice and inflection to the written word?

You know, the rising and lowering of voice?

I look forward to reading your response,
Dave
#article #copywriters #questions #quick #writers
  • Profile picture of the author Chri5123
    Originally Posted by David Maschke View Post

    Hi,

    I know for a fact that some of you great writers and salesman never walk on over to the copywriting forum, so I'd like just a few seconds of your time, ok?

    Great.

    The question is...

    How do you transfer tone of voice and inflection to the written word?

    You know, the rising and lowering of voice?

    I look forward to reading your response,
    Dave
    Hi Dave,

    Interesting post.

    I think to do this with the written word you need to connect with the reader and they need to UNDERSTAND where you are coming from.

    I know this sounds weird but when people read they hear a voice in their head (theirs) while reading...

    Are you with me?

    Like when you are reading these words you are repeating them in your head, your train of thought right?

    Well I think this is how you change tone in your copy...

    You are building a picture of what I sound like and even to some degree how I look when reading and instinctively asking the question:

    "Will I get on with this guy?"

    or

    "Can I trust this guy?"

    If you answer yes then you will notice the slight change in tone in the sales copy normally because it is written by someone that you can relate too.

    I hope this makes sense?

    My 2 pence...

    All the best,

    Chris Jones
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  • Profile picture of the author derekmichael02
    Chris is right. As long as you are not doing technical writing, type like you are speaking.

    Use lots of questions and white space in your copy, you know what I mean?

    Try to avoid excess bolding and underlining. Italics can appear to give some surprise or emphasis, but is sometimes hard to see.

    Then, reread your copy after you write it... (the next day is better, if you can afford to wait). This always results in a rewrite, or clarifying points, or adding emphasis on what you are trying to say.

    Make sense?
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by David Maschke View Post

    How do you transfer tone of voice and inflection to the written word?

    You know, the rising and lowering of voice?
    With (i) layout, (ii) style, (iii) punctuation and (iv) any other available presentational features.

    One small example would be the way you've put the words "tone" and "inflection" in bold, above. This is merely emphasis, of course, but emphasis itself is part of one's tone of voice.

    Another example would be the bright red headlines in which Every Word Starts With An Upper-Case Letter, much beloved by the clients of people pretending to to be copywriters, who almost never split-test it, and typically don't realize how it makes their words come across to potential customers, nor how many are understandably alienated by it.

    And then, of course, some of us cheat and use smiley pictures, too ...
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  • Profile picture of the author David Maschke
    Hey thanks guys (and to the one who is obviously not a guy).

    You can tell I was overdoing it in my post, it was the first time I tried it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Hi David,

    Ready? This is so cool! This trick works. Short sentences imply rising voice. String them together. Be quick. Cut out any "fluff" words.

    Now, to be serious for a moment, you can imply a lower tone of voice with longer sentences and longer words. You can also let people that your voice is being lowered through word choice, using phrases like "to be serious for a moment".

    Another possible technique is to use actual quotes from others or as self-thought, then introduce those quotes with words that describe the tone.

    I knew my goose was cooked that day. My boss came into my cubicle and said in a hushed and deliberate tone, "Bill, I'm going to have to let you go. Merry Christmas."

    Or...

    It had been a long day when my boss burst into my cubicle. Unable to contain himself, he blurted out, "We just made a million in sales. Merry, Merry Christmas!"

    All the best,
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author David Maschke
    Thanks Mike,

    Saving this thread to my hard drive.

    After re-reading the posts, I can see how a simple choice of words does the trick too.
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