Do You Know The 9 Main Types Of Writing?
Writing is one of the oldest means of communication. It is one of the best ways to give value in form of entertainment or education. Writing also makes up the scripts for most of the videos you watch on platforms like social media or YouTube.
This listicle article will highlight the main types and where you can find them online.
1. Expository Writing
This kind of writing explains a concept in detail of a specific topic.
It also informs you on how to accomplish a certain task, step by step in some cases.
You can find it in:
* Textbooks
* News articles
* How-to guides
* Encyclopedias
* Educational blogs
Digital Platforms
Online websites or platforms where you can find good pieces of exposition include:
* WikiHow
* Britannica Online
* The New York Times
* WordPress
* Coursera
* Wikipedia
* Medium itself
* BBC/CNN
* Khan Academy
* Instructables
Simply type the names on Google and they will show up!
2. Descriptive Writing
As the name implies, this writing is all about describing an experience or event. It focuses on painting a picture with words, thus evoking your imagination.
You can find vivid and detailed descriptions in:
* Nature magazines
* Poetry collections
* Travel journals
* Literary fiction
* Art critiques
Digital Platforms
If you fancy descriptive writing, check out the following websites:
* National Geographic
* The Paris Review
* Granta
* AllPoetry
* Hyperallergic
* Poetizer
* Nomadic Matt
* The Art Newspaper
3. Narrative Writing
Narrative writing tells a story with the use of characters, dialogue and a plot. This type of writing can be suitable for young readers.
You can find narratives in:
* Biographies
* Screenplays
* Children's books
* Novels
* Short story collections
Digital Platforms
Some platforms allow you to publish your stories, in addition to reading the stories of others. They include:
* SimplyScripts
* Biography.com
* 101 Short Stories
* Amazon Kindle
* Wattpad
* Storyline Online
* Script Revolution
* Children’s Library
4. Persuasive Writing
Self explanatory, isn't it?
Persuasive writing intends to convince you of a particular viewpoint or opinion.
In the business world, it is called copywriting.
You can find persuasive writing in:
* Advertisements
* Editorials in newspapers/magazines
* Persuasive essays
* Product or service reviews
* Political campaigns
Digital Platforms
Visit the following websites or platforms to see what persuasive writing looks like:
* The New Yorker
* Facebook and Instagram (for ads)
* The Guardian
* Amazon (for product reviews)
Medium also has good persuasive articles and you can find political campaigns on the official websites of the candidates.
Although, I think you have to wait for campaign season.
5. Creative Writing
This type of writing relies on the use of a writer's imagination. It is mostly fictional and can be combined with narration and description.
Examples of creative writing are:
* Poetry
* Flash fiction
* Novels
* Fantasy series
* Scripts for plays
Digital Platforms
If you love to read creative writing, take note of the following websites:
* Fantasy Faction
* New Play Exchange
* Archive Of Our Own
* PoemHunter
* Wattpad
* Tor.com
* Poetry Foundation
* 101 words
6. Technical Writing
Technical writing is the kind of writing that provides specialized information and instructions.
It can be found in:
* User manuals
* Scientific journals
* Technical reports
* Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for organizations
* Online help systems for apps and software
Digital Platforms
If you fancy technical writing, here are some sites you can check out:
* PubMed
* Zendesk
* TechCrunch
* SOPHUB
* Apple Support
* Ars Technica
* Salesforce Help
* IEEE Xplore
7. Journalistic Writing
This type of writing gives objective reports of the news and events. Journalists are familiar with how it is written.
It is mainly found in:
* Online news sites
* Magazines
* Press releases
* Broadcast news
* Newspapers
Digital Platforms
On the following websites, you can read and also watch news reports and updates on news events:
* The Washington Post
* Google News
* Flipboard
* TIME
* Al Jazeera
* PR Newswire
* Reuters
* CNN live/BBC news live (broadcasts)
8. Academic Writing
This is a formal and structured type of writing mainly used in scholarly articles and research papers. It can be found in:
* Conference papers
* Research journals
* Theses and dissertations
* Academic blogs
* Textbooks
Digital Platforms
You can find academic writing on the following websites and platforms:
* OpenStax
* Google Scholar
* ProQuest
* Scholarly Kitchen
* JSTOR
* Google books
9. Business Writing
This type of writing serves as professional communication and is used in the corporate world. It is mainly found in:
* Business reports
* Emails
* Memos
* Proposals
* White papers
Digital Platforms
The following platforms can be used to write or host the various kinds of business writing.
* ProtonMail
* SharePoint
* Google Drive
* PandaDoc
* White Paper Library
* Proposify
* Outlook
* Gmail
Conclusion
Different types of writing serve different purposes and can be for specific audiences.
Online writing has evolved into a full time job for writers through blogging, copywriting, content writing and freelancing.
There are countless job opportunities in all the main types of writing highlighted here and knowing which one you want to engage in is important.
Some people say that writing is a lonely profession.
Is it true?
Let me know in the comments.
