Writing In Tone

Tone is so important in everything you write. You can think of tone as the words between the words. Tone is conveyed by what you're not saying, and what you're not saying can sometimes scream at readers, drowning out what you are saying. Writers tend to focus too much on content, to the detriment of tone. It is important to be accurate and thorough and honest in your writing, but it's also important to give readers literary medicine that they can swallow easily. You get nowhere with readers if you offend or insult them or talk down to them. So paying attention to the tone in your writing is critical to connecting with readers. The best way to do this is to really "listen" to what you've written. Look for the connotations and turns of phrase that may send the wrong message to readers. When you read your writing back, do you have any negative gut reaction to what you're saying? When you read it aloud, does it convey the mood or attitude you intended it to? Does your writing "sound" the way you hear it in your head? Getting tone right doesn't mean you edit out truth or shock or fury. It means that you make sure your words don't betray your message and that the timbre of your language is harmonious with your intent. Writing must resonate aurally to be effective, and having your message and your tone in sync will make it fall like music on readers' ears.