I want to just go up to people who write non-fiction books and ask them, how did you decide new yorker voice versus super relatable voice? *grabs suspenders and shakes author* Tell me!!
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Voice took me SO long to reach, and is still the thing I'm excavating for in every chapter. But I'm writing a literary memoir about grief and wilderness in a time of climate collapse. Which means I need some funny to break it up every once in a while too. I think my whole book is about voice.
jul 18, 2025, 3:44 pm • 2 0 • view
Answer: Who is your core audience?
jul 18, 2025, 1:35 pm • 2 0 • view
You mean the new yorker does not want to reach everyone, everywhere? But all those extra diacritical marks seem so welcoming.
jul 18, 2025, 1:37 pm • 3 0 • view
Haha I love making coordinate look more german, but I would guess the broader population is less enthused. It does depend a bit on your goals/audience. I wanted my book to appeal to a lot of people. I aimed for accessible and still could have gone further with that, in retrospect.
jul 18, 2025, 1:44 pm • 3 0 • view
My choices will likely not satisfy some academic readers, but that wasn't my core audience, so I can live with it. To the extent that your skeets are reflective of your voice, I'd lean into that. It's compelling and persuasive.
jul 18, 2025, 1:46 pm • 3 0 • view
Lols my posts would make the new yorker man's monocle fall out
jul 18, 2025, 1:58 pm • 0 0 • view
As opposed to how i post, which is way too full of profanity to get past my editors
jul 18, 2025, 1:49 pm • 2 0 • view
As opposed to how I write, which is a combination of "oh, yeah, that's a good idea" and "oh, no, that's not a good idea at all."
jul 18, 2025, 1:53 pm • 2 0 • view
Now I’m wondering which voice I’ve been writing this book in for the last year!
jul 18, 2025, 1:41 pm • 2 0 • view
Gotta tell me your comps for that 😉
jul 18, 2025, 1:56 pm • 1 0 • view
I think l've been unavoidably influenced by the style-as-no-style consensus that emerged partly in reaction to the excesses of New Journalism. E.g. Rachel Aviv is one my absolute favorites, her prose is so restrained it's actually bold and audacious.
jul 18, 2025, 4:47 pm • 1 0 • view
But I also read everything Kerry Howley writes because in addition to being brilliant and relentless her voice is very distinctive in a way that make my eyes get wider. So there's your New Yorker v. New York contrast I guess!
jul 18, 2025, 4:47 pm • 1 0 • view
Rereading this to get a feel www.thecut.com/article/erew...
jul 18, 2025, 4:56 pm • 1 0 • view
The Peleton reveal is amazing! Also, I see what you mean by the no-style style of writing. Feels particularly well-suited to narrative nonfiction.
jul 18, 2025, 5:20 pm • 0 0 • view
“I suppose I made my fateful choice when the light died in my father’s eyes. I’d told him of my decision for an accounting major - a rebuke to his clown college dreams. The sun had set, but twilight’s lingering made ambience enough to reflect his pain, even as his greasy smile remained painted on.”
jul 18, 2025, 1:45 pm • 2 0 • view
“I knew then that a trite sort of coöperation between indie middlebrow reader and equally tedious author would define the tragedy of my writing, beyond the balance sheëts.”
jul 18, 2025, 1:47 pm • 1 0 • view
I had to learn the difference between an umlaut and diaeresis because of these people
jul 18, 2025, 2:00 pm • 1 0 • view
Thanks everyone! The general advice was to use the voice I use when I teach. That means lots of pop culture references and never winding up in the new yorker.
jul 18, 2025, 3:47 pm • 41 0 • view
Goodbye possible world where someone says I write "beautiful prose"
jul 18, 2025, 4:07 pm • 19 0 • view
Maybe, but my the wide new vistas opened up now for “scathing,” “furious,” and “actually funny”
jul 18, 2025, 4:11 pm • 1 0 • view
I sent the first draft to Chris and gave him some points I'm still considering and one of them was basically "I seem very mad at X, Y, and Z (because I am) but that's not how you persuade so be on the lookout for where I should be less angry"
jul 18, 2025, 4:14 pm • 1 0 • view
But maybe you could use the British spelling of "Welp,..."?
jul 18, 2025, 4:09 pm • 1 0 • view
Mmm... there is much more beautiful prose than is dreamt of by New Yorker editors. I once spent a week reading dozens of longform New Yorker and Atlantic articles. At least at first impression there were 3 types, and the "true (and social) crime" type required only a waterfall of luridity.
jul 18, 2025, 4:11 pm • 2 0 • view
That's very fair. I get that in just a product of my context so I think that writing is better than my natural writing.
jul 18, 2025, 4:16 pm • 3 0 • view
All I know is that I've worked 10+ yrs to eliminate mid-branching sentences, and people still recommend an "academic style with punch" book whose first chapter is full of ... mid-branching sentences.
jul 18, 2025, 4:58 pm • 2 0 • view
Exactly! @elienyc.bsky.social compares several SCOTUS justices to Marvel characters in his books.
jul 18, 2025, 3:48 pm • 0 0 • view
I'm curious about what publication has the "super relatable voice" you prefer? (aside from The Chronicle, obviously)
jul 18, 2025, 1:39 pm • 2 0 • view
Obvi the Chronicle. I think there are lots of spaces with more relatable voice. NYMag is one. But I do also enjoy The New Yorker. That post wasn't a dig at them cause I assume everyone realizes that is a very particular way of writing.
jul 18, 2025, 1:55 pm • 2 0 • view
Super relatable - because I’d like people to read all of it instead of skimming just the topic sentences.
jul 18, 2025, 5:01 pm • 0 0 • view
After some period of doubt and struggle, I landed on the philosophy of Popeye the Sailor, I yam what I yam. I think ultimately, authenticity, which creates a sense of comfort with the reader is the way to go.
jul 18, 2025, 1:49 pm • 7 0 • view
Excellent philosophy and useful info!
jul 18, 2025, 2:03 pm • 3 0 • view
Some of it is where you come from, if you had New Yorker voice hammered into you, and if you want serial rights there. I like reading voice-ier writers, and find NYer voice a little soporific — so it is an easy choice to not bother
jul 18, 2025, 2:11 pm • 1 0 • view
If you're trying to decide what voice and style to write something in, I might know a guy. (It's me. I'm the guy.)
jul 18, 2025, 1:33 pm • 3 0 • view
Iiiiinteresting. I'll keep that in mind.
jul 18, 2025, 1:36 pm • 3 0 • view
I always say: write with the voice you use to teach
jul 18, 2025, 1:49 pm • 14 0 • view
Yup
jul 18, 2025, 1:49 pm • 5 0 • view
Well that does explain all the questions in the first draft (I looove a good question). Thanks for the tip y'all!
jul 18, 2025, 2:02 pm • 5 0 • view
If your goal is to make at least one huge winking dig at academics and academia per piece, there is no substitute for New Yorker voice
jul 18, 2025, 2:00 pm • 3 0 • view
Now what if the winking digs are at Harvard and the economics discipline?
jul 18, 2025, 2:04 pm • 2 0 • view
My forthcoming book was apparently described by a member of the University of Chicago editorial board as a book that “could be sold in Wisconsin gas stations” so it’s possible that with book 3 I have finally found my voice?? Otoh it will no doubt be critiqued as too academic AND not academic enough.
jul 18, 2025, 4:17 pm • 7 0 • view
that is such a damn mood. can't win in either camp. SO EXCITED for your book though!!!
jul 18, 2025, 4:29 pm • 4 0 • view
Thank you!! I so appreciate your enthusiasm and support lo these many years! ✍️🍻🌿
jul 18, 2025, 5:15 pm • 1 0 • view
A) Congrats on the forthcoming book! B) I'm glad you went with the voice you thought was most appropriate for your audience. Critiques will always have thoughts but *you* deciding how *your* work gets communicated is a beautiful thing.
jul 18, 2025, 4:26 pm • 1 0 • view
Thank you! It was definitely a journey, with much assistance from my writing group.
jul 18, 2025, 5:13 pm • 1 0 • view
You could probably write your next book just unpacking that comment. Layers upon layers of Midwest stance and attitude wrapped up in that one
jul 18, 2025, 4:28 pm • 4 0 • view
also yes
jul 18, 2025, 4:46 pm • 2 0 • view