writing styles

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by laxmi, Nov 13, 2007.

  1. #1
    how many types of writing styles are there in freelance writing?What are they?how can i learn them?:confused:
     
    laxmi, Nov 13, 2007 IP
  2. Nitro777

    Nitro777 Active Member

    Messages:
    105
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    51
    #2
    Need some Interest , just start with easy Styles and functions & you will be better ,

    Good luck ..
     
    Nitro777, Nov 13, 2007 IP
  3. boron

    boron Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,072
    Likes Received:
    40
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #3
    You have online writting - for websites, and offline writing - mostly for magazines.

    There are many fields: movies, technology, 'webmaster', health...

    Types of writing:
    - articles,
    - blog posts,
    - tutorials, guides, reviews, news, recipes,
    - making "Help" or "Rules" sections of a website, invitation mails, advertisments, etc.,
    - press release,
    - labels for commercial products, manuals,
    - help with diplomas, seminaries...

    Lenght of writing: from few words to many thousand words.

    You can translate, proofread...

    It is good if you have some knowledge, education, interest or enthusiasm in some field, otherwise writing is only a pain. Start with considering this.
     
    boron, Nov 13, 2007 IP
  4. Hobbytron

    Hobbytron Peon

    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Don't get it.
     
    Hobbytron, Nov 13, 2007 IP
  5. Contentwriter_2707

    Contentwriter_2707 Banned

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    Basically there are four types of writing..
    1. Descriptive which gives a clear picture to the reader
    2. Narrative which tells story
    3. Persuasive which is written to convince the reader
    4. Expository which gives information.

    Now in the freelance world... these types are only sub categorized. Say for example:
    Press releases is a type of descriptive writing
    tutorials, reviews, guides etc are type of expository writing
    sales letter, advertisements, promotional copies, marketing kits etc are type of persuasive writing
    and as for the narrative writing, it describes itself.
     
    Contentwriter_2707, Nov 13, 2007 IP
  6. cre8ive

    cre8ive Peon

    Messages:
    295
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    Are you from India ...? I'm just guessing by looking at your name.

    Slightly-off topic:

    Each version of English has a distinct flavor, and you need to be aware of that. I suppose you can say that this adds even more types of writing to ones already mentioned. The difference between American English and British English is huge, but there are many more distinct flavors though not everyone is aware of the fact. For example, it's commonly believed that Indian English is compatible with British English. You can certainly argue that is indeed the case, but Indian English is as different from British English as American English is different from British English. Its idiosyncrasy is very unique. If you want to provide your service to a U.K. company and if you write Indian English, then, first and foremost, you need to learn how to write British English. If you write American English, then you need to do the same.

    I'm not directly answering your question, but the point is that different flavors or versions of English create many different types of writing.
     
    cre8ive, Nov 14, 2007 IP
  7. Contentwriter_2707

    Contentwriter_2707 Banned

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    hey, cre8ive
    although ur post was a little off the topic, but i second ur post.. :) different types of writing is created with different flavors of english.. and moreover we need to be very careful about the version of english we are using and what our clients want...
     
    Contentwriter_2707, Nov 14, 2007 IP
  8. ashvaj

    ashvaj Active Member

    Messages:
    564
    Likes Received:
    14
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    58
    #8
    The more you read the more you learn.Keep this in mind and you will come to know numerous styles of writing day by day.Each style has its own flavour. Versatility will certainly help you a lot.
     
    ashvaj, Nov 15, 2007 IP
  9. laxmi

    laxmi Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,329
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    130
    #9
    i want to join academic research.And here he is asking us to write in mla and apa style.where can i learn this styles?any help would be great.:)
     
    laxmi, Nov 15, 2007 IP
  10. laxmi

    laxmi Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,329
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    130
  11. boron

    boron Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,072
    Likes Received:
    40
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #11
    boron, Nov 15, 2007 IP
  12. AdJumpCM

    AdJumpCM Guest

    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #12
    There are dozens of different writing styles, not just four. When you brand an entire skill set with blanket generalizations you are looking at it from a myopic perspective.
     
    AdJumpCM, Nov 15, 2007 IP
  13. Contentwriter_2707

    Contentwriter_2707 Banned

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    reading reading and reading and doing lots and lots of research are the only tools to learn the various writing styles... they just cant be taught or learnt at one go...
     
    Contentwriter_2707, Nov 15, 2007 IP
  14. boron

    boron Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,072
    Likes Received:
    40
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
  15. gthing

    gthing Peon

    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #15
    I don't really understand the question - but I've done copywriting for a few years and usually try to be funny in some way. Think woot.com style.

    But it all depends on the client.
     
    gthing, Nov 16, 2007 IP
  16. bobchrist

    bobchrist Active Member

    Messages:
    4,102
    Likes Received:
    95
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    88
    #16
    You may also find few good tips at copyblogger sites.
     
    bobchrist, Nov 16, 2007 IP
  17. Contentwriter_2707

    Contentwriter_2707 Banned

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #17
    Contentwriter_2707, Nov 16, 2007 IP
  18. AmaNicole

    AmaNicole Guest

    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #18
    I agree that reading, reading and more reading, specifically in the forms and genres you wish to write, will improve not only your technical skills such as spelling, grammar, structure, etc., but will also ingrain a standard of flow and naturalness in your writing.

    But if you're really only concerned with APA and MLA, it's all by-the-book rules. You don't even need to know it off the top of your head; I think it was only in my third year of an English Literature degree that I was able to write an essay without consulting the handbook. And now it's all left me. A 100 level or introductory English course might be useful and a relatively small commitment, especially if you're looking into writing scholarly type articles.

    Best of luck!
     
    AmaNicole, Nov 16, 2007 IP
  19. jacki3

    jacki3 Peon

    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #19
    academia research encourages cheating and laziness - specifically for college students :)
     
    jacki3, Nov 16, 2007 IP
  20. Coby DuBose

    Coby DuBose Peon

    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #20
    As you continue writing, you'll realize that you never really learn everything there is to learn. Good writers are always looking for new ways to improve upon what they already know.
     
    Coby DuBose, Nov 16, 2007 IP