Setting the Tone of a Text

Tone In Writing

The How, Why, And When

Setting the Tone of a Text

The use of the right type of tone in writing can be transformational for a reader.

What Is Tone in Writing?

In writing, tone is the implicit emotional message your piece sends to the reader. You can convey different types of tones in writing with your sentence structure, tone words, phrasing, imagery, and more. Tere are some common types of tone that you are likely to see in fiction and non-fiction: • Formal • Optimistic • Informal • Concerned • Friendly • Encouraging • Humorous • Surprised • Assertive • Co-operative

What Is Tone in Writing?

While the type of tone used can vary with every character and scene, the overall tone of your story must remain consistent to keep from confusing your reader and hindering your message. A reader has certain expectations from a novel, depending on its genre, the synopsis and how it is marketed. Therefore, writers must try not to deviate from this consistent message in the tone of their novels. For example, a novel about tragedy should rarely break into a light-hearted or cheerful tone, whereas a romantic comedy should stay clear of fearful or serious tones.

What Is Tone in Writing?

Vocabulary is key in setting tone, so you need to ensure that you select the right words for a specific scene or setting in your novel, or even the overall theme. For example, a scene about falling in love would convey an entirely different emotion if written using words like ‘dark shadow of death’ and ‘veins popping out of his neck’!

WHY IS TONE IMPORTANT?

Tone helps you tell your story in an impactful way. This can make the reader feel emotionally connected and even build trust. It can mean the difference between the reader connecting with the story and wanting to read until the very last page or giving up and starting something else, which is undoubtedly every author’s worst nightmare!

How To Develop Your Writing Tone

Let’s look at the key ways that you can set the tone of your story.

1. Keep Your Tone Consistent Throughout

Think of the tone as the soul of a literary work. Read through your manuscript and look for places where the tone fades or shifts. Focus your attention there.

2. Write With Your Reader/Target Audience In Mind

Most readers are loyal to genres and want to know that they are in safe hands every time they pick up a book. For example, a reader seeking escapism from dire world conflict will be fully thrown by a romantic comedy novel if it suddenly creeps into suspense and fear.

3. Play With Detail And Description

Think about the characters and plot of your story, and weave in appropriate detail and descriptions to set the tone. For instance, a depressed or lonely character may notice cracks forming on wall, whereas a love-struck, hopeful character will see vibrant wallpaper and intricate covings. Make every word you use earn its place in your story. Choose wisely and don’t be afraid to cut words if they are not serving their purpose.

Examples of Tone in Literature

Pick up any book. Turn to any page. And start reading. Straight away, you should be able to pick up on the overall tone of the story and in that specific scene.

‘’The barbershop was strangely quiet. Only the dull buzz of clippers shearing soft scalps. That was before the barber caught you watching her reflection in the mirror as he cut her hair, and saw something in her eyes too. He paused and turned towards you, his dreads like thick beautiful roots dancing with excitement as he spoke.’’

Open Water By Caleb Azumah Nelson

tone

It is clear that Nelson has chosen his vocabulary with purpose – ‘’dancing’’, ‘’shearing soft scalps’’, ‘thick beautiful roots’’ to convey the underlying romantic tone of his novel.

‘’But as much as he fears sex, he also wants to be touched, he wants to feel someone else’s hands on him, although the thought of that too terrifies him. Sometimes he looks at his arms and is filled with a self-hatred so fiery that he can barely breathe…’’

A Little Life By Hanya Yanagihara

tone

Even in such a short extract of a 700-page novel, we as the reader can gauge the tragic, pessimistic, and fearful tone that Yanagihara has conveyed through her beautiful prose.

‘’They have a hut. A place to sleep. It is waterproof and windproof but the elements are still around them: they can hear the sea from their bed, see the light of the moon and the sun shining through the tarpaulin, little though it is through the constant cloud. It is not warm unless they are under their piles of blankets, but is somewhere they can rest after the toil of the day’’

The Stranding By Kate Sawyer

tone

In this short extract of Sawyer’s captivating novel, you can immediately get a feel of the narrator’s worried and anxious tone, and the strong current of hope within it.

Thank You!

resources

https://www.semrush.com/blog/how-to-establish-tone-in-writing/ https://jerichowriters.com/tone-in-writing-the-how-why-and-when/#:~:text=Tone%20can%20be%20set%20in,other%20characters%20in%20the%20story).