This article was co-authored with Sue Williams.
Entrepreneurs who write for high profile publications can dramatically enhance their reputation and expose their business to new audiences. But figuring out how to break in can be difficult. It’s not just a question of finding the editor’s contact information and hewing to the outlet’s requirements for length and topic.
A subtle but essential nuance that entrepreneurs often miss is how to adapt your writing voice to suit different publications. An editor knows their section and/or publication’s voice in depth, and will quickly reject a poor match. Tailoring your voice to fit a specific market or audience, however, will help you stand out when you need to excel.
As a professional writer, ghost blogger, and editor, one of us (Sue) publishes her work under various names and using various styles — everything from young adult literature to business writing. Meanwhile, Dorie has written for many major business publications. We’ve discovered techniques that any professional can use to break into top-tier outlets. Here are four ways you can match your voice to any target publication, so your style is “just right” for them.
Examine the level of formality.
First, look at whether the most popular writers at your target outlet typically use the first person (“I’ve worked with several companies that did XYZ”) or the third person (“It’s common for companies to do XYZ”). Publications that favor the first person point of view are often casual, chatty, and might include personal anecdotes and clearly stated viewpoints. Meanwhile, writers using the third person often seem to not express their own opinions, subtly presenting their views through quotes and examples from others instead.
If you’re having trouble gauging levels of formality,…
