"I don't see what all the fuss is about! Every writer knows that the message is of central and solitary importance. Without the message, the written piece is  nothing!" growled Samantha Faction. A small group concurred with Ms. Faction's theory.  

However, most writers at the gathering boisterously cheered Mr. Mundayne's speech:  "The message is central to any writing, of course," retorted Buzz Mundayne, "Tone is a lost concept to some writers - that's the issue. Writers no longer care how their message sounds to an audience. They just care that the message, written in any old style, is being published. Delivery, how it comes off  to the readers, is equally  important to the message:  that's the fuss.  

"Suppose I write an article to the mayor's advocates angrily and sarcastically criticizing a law that our new mayor has enacted. Who do you think is going to listen to my message? I would have to sound pretty darn reasonable and logical while arguing my point to get the mayor's advocates to listen to me, the opposition, don't you think?"  

Newcomers to the debate are most familiar with the message-centered theory of writing and are unfamiliar with the idea of having a tone in their writing.  

"What is tone exactly? What does that have to do with my audience again?" inquired a fresh faced writer at the latest debates.  

"Tone reflects the writer's attitude towards his/her own writing as well as towards his/her audience," bellowed one participant.  

Another new writer yelled out in an attempt to be heard over the ensuing din,"You must adapt your tone, and consequently, your message to fit your audience!"  

An unexpected hush fell over the room as this message was heard: "You can not simply separate the message from the way you write! You must consider your the level of formality for your writing,"  concluded an anonymous voice in the crowd.  

The crowd cleared a path to reveal the famous modern author, Emily Beckett.  "Someone earlier had mentioned earlier that tone has to do with how you sound to your audience - whether your writing sounds sarcastic, sad, condescending, or excited is part-and -parcel of tone and diction. This is very true, and is also very important. In addition, tone also entails levels of formality. For example..." she continued while walking to the podium, "I wouldn't write a memo to  my  boss in the same way that I wrote a letter to my friend - even if I write to them about the same subject!"  

"I think that this ridiculous controversy stems from forgetfulness, "she concluded from center stage, "Writers are forgetting how the audience moves our writing and our attitudes - even if we've never met them. So let me remind you that your audience will influence the way you write or speak just  as much as the message itself."