Will Casual Blogging Conversation Be the Death of Formal Article Writing?

A couple of days ago I wondered if it’s OK for freelance writing bloggers to talk like they speak. After all, blogging is a much more casual form of writing than what most of us are used to.  While some purists don’t always appreciate a conversational tone when reading the news or learning about vitamin supplements, the truth is, that’s where we’re headed. The Internet has turned writers into bloggers and everything is all so ultra-cas now.

Writing for Short Attention Spans

Look around at your favorite news, medical and even government sites and what do you see? News sites feature more bloggers than journalists. News is no longer a one way show. We can digest and then discuss. We can even counterpoint if we want to – and receive more traffic with our rebuttal than the original post.

We’re told Internet readers have short attention spans and would much rather scan headlines and look for juicy bits than commit to an entire article.

Everyone giving a web writing lesson encourages us to:

  • Write short sentences
  • Use a conversational tone
  • Break up text with sub heads, lists. and bullet points
  • Keep it to 500 to 1,000 words

Twenty years ago it wasn’t so easy being a freelance writer. Now? Not so much. Anyone can become published on the web and many of us are even paid for it. The new breed of writers don’t have to have a degree in journalism or mass communications, heck, they don’t have to finish school at all if that’s not how they roll.

I’m not saying all this is a bad thing, but I often pause to consider where we’re headed.

Are we still interested in a formal tone?

I wonder what all this means for writing and writers now and in the future. Is America getting used to casual, short attention span reading? Are we doing the bulk of our reading via smartphone on the morning commute?

Do we trust a conversational tone over a formal tone?

It was announced yesterday that Newsweek is up for sale as newsweeklies lose their influence. We’re now learning what we need to know in 140 characters or less, so who has time for an entire magazine? If our trusted sources can’t be considered influential anymore, what can?

Where are we headed ?

I know there are many of us who still enjoy holding books or newspapers. As loyalists get older and the younger generation finds new methods of reading, paper copies are going to be a thing of the past. Why buy books and magazines when we can listen to them or download them onto electronic readers? Why recycle or dust worn volumes when there’s no need? Even I, the daughter of a librarian, am moving towards more electronic reading and fewer physical copies.

It’s no secret that it’s more difficult to read on a screen, which is why we teach short and sweet web writing now. Does that mean we’re going to be writing more to accommodate laptops, electronic readers and short attention spans? As more “citizen journalists” try their hand at this blogging thing, what will happen to the old school way of writing?

I recently wondered about the future of reading. To be honest, I’m more interested in the future of writing.

What are your thoughts on this? Does our future show a more casual way of reading and writing?

Comments

5 responses
  1. Al Kane Avatar
    Al Kane

    Most blogs ramble on endlessly, lack focus and are tiring to read.
    No, I don’t think blogs will replace well written articles.

  2. Jessie Haynes Avatar

    Deb, I share your concerns. However, I believe that valuable journalism will prevail. One of the reasons I’m looking at acquiring more print clips is because I want to distinguish myself from the “anyone can be a web writer” crowd. It is also why I’m taking another freelance writing course-to distinguish myself. I blog a lot, but I believe in research and thorough, quality journalism. I have faith that things will change, but good writing will always be necessary.

    Al, I think it is a gross overstatement to say that “most” blogs ramble and such. I definitely don’t think that blogs will replace articles, either.

  3. Gina-Marie Cheeseman Avatar

    Jessie, I agree with you. Good, quality journalism will always be needed. I think there needs to be a new term for people who write articles online. I am not into much of what is considered traditional blogging. Al is right!

    We can use the traditional, newspaper style of writing online. I like the good, old inverted pyramid style. If we write well, and incorporate bullets/number into a piece, I think it works.
    .-= Gina-Marie Cheeseman´s last blog ..Congress Moves One Step Closer to Financial Reform =-.

  4. poch Avatar

    Sometimes, even if our article is formal, we’ll be forced to make it semi-formal.
    Here’s how that happened to me just recently:
    I’ve just written a formal post where I have to cite a comment. And of course most comments are informal so I would say that the article turned semi-formal on its own. I was still thinking about its impact when I read this your timely post so I commented. I hope this helps us in our predictions.

  5. Jennifer Brown Banks Avatar

    Formal, good, engaging article writing will always be in demand. Like good fashion, or good music, it never goes out of style or becomes totally obsolete for those of discriminating taste.
    .-= Jennifer Brown Banks´s last blog ..THE 4-1-1 FOR MAY! Extra! Extra!… =-.

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