diff --git a/tracing-fmt/examples/custom_visitor.rs b/tracing-fmt/examples/custom_visitor.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2327adf5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tracing-fmt/examples/custom_visitor.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#![deny(rust_2018_idioms)]
+use tracing::{debug, error, info, span, trace, warn, Level};
+
+#[tracing::instrument]
+fn shave(yak: usize) -> bool {
+    debug!(
+        message = "hello! I'm gonna shave a yak.",
+        excitement = "yay!"
+    );
+    if yak == 3 {
+        warn!(target: "yak_events", "could not locate yak!");
+        false
+    } else {
+        trace!(target: "yak_events", "yak shaved successfully");
+        true
+    }
+}
+
+fn shave_all(yaks: usize) -> usize {
+    let span = span!(Level::TRACE, "shaving_yaks", yaks_to_shave = yaks);
+    let _enter = span.enter();
+
+    info!("shaving yaks");
+
+    let mut num_shaved = 0;
+    for yak in 1..=yaks {
+        let shaved = shave(yak);
+        trace!(target: "yak_events", yak, shaved);
+
+        if !shaved {
+            error!(message = "failed to shave yak!", yak);
+        } else {
+            num_shaved += 1;
+        }
+
+        trace!(target: "yak_events", yaks_shaved = num_shaved);
+    }
+
+    num_shaved
+}
+
+fn main() {
+    use tracing_fmt::format;
+    use tracing_subscriber::prelude::*;
+
+    let formatter =
+        // Construct a custom formatter for `Debug` fields
+        format::debug_fn(|writer, field, value| write!(writer, "{}: {:?}", field, value))
+            // Use `tracing-subscriber`'s extension traits to add delimiters
+            // between fields, and ensure that fields named "message" are
+            // formatted using fmt::Display.
+            .display_messages()
+            .delimited(", ");
+
+    let subscriber = tracing_fmt::FmtSubscriber::builder()
+        .fmt_fields(formatter)
+        .finish();
+
+    tracing::subscriber::with_default(subscriber, || {
+        let number_of_yaks = 3;
+        debug!("preparing to shave {} yaks", number_of_yaks);
+
+        let number_shaved = shave_all(number_of_yaks);
+
+        debug!(
+            message = "yak shaving completed.",
+            all_yaks_shaved = number_shaved == number_of_yaks,
+        );
+    });
+}
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/field/debug.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/debug.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea7d687c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/debug.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+//! `MakeVisitor` wrappers for working with `fmt::Debug` fields.
+use super::{MakeVisitor, VisitFmt, VisitOutput, VisitWrite};
+use tracing_core::field::{Field, Visit};
+
+use std::{fmt, io};
+
+/// A visitor wrapper that ensures any `fmt::Debug` fields are formatted using
+/// the alternate (`:#`) formatter.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Alt<V>(V);
+
+// TODO(eliza): When `error` as a primitive type is stable, add a
+// `DisplayErrors` wrapper...
+
+// === impl Alt ===
+//
+impl<V> Alt<V> {
+    /// Wraps the provided visitor so that any `fmt::Debug` fields are formated
+    /// using the alternative (`:#`) formatter.
+    pub fn new(inner: V) -> Self {
+        Alt(inner)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, V> MakeVisitor<T> for Alt<V>
+where
+    V: MakeVisitor<T>,
+{
+    type Visitor = Alt<V::Visitor>;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn make_visitor(&self, target: T) -> Self::Visitor {
+        Alt(self.0.make_visitor(target))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V> Visit for Alt<V>
+where
+    V: Visit,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_i64(&mut self, field: &Field, value: i64) {
+        self.0.record_i64(field, value)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_u64(&mut self, field: &Field, value: u64) {
+        self.0.record_u64(field, value)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_bool(&mut self, field: &Field, value: bool) {
+        self.0.record_bool(field, value)
+    }
+
+    /// Visit a string value.
+    fn record_str(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &str) {
+        self.0.record_str(field, value)
+    }
+
+    // TODO(eliza): add RecordError when stable
+    // fn record_error(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &(dyn std::error::Error + 'static)) {
+    //     self.record_debug(field, &format_args!("{}", value))
+    // }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_debug(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &dyn fmt::Debug) {
+        self.0.record_debug(field, &format_args!("{:#?}", value))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V, O> VisitOutput<O> for Alt<V>
+where
+    V: VisitOutput<O>,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn finish(self) -> O {
+        self.0.finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V> VisitWrite for Alt<V>
+where
+    V: VisitWrite,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn io::Write {
+        self.0.writer()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V> VisitFmt for Alt<V>
+where
+    V: VisitFmt,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn fmt::Write {
+        self.0.writer()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/field/delimited.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/delimited.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1861f877
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/delimited.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+//! A `MakeVisitor` wrapper that separates formatted fields with a delimiter.
+use super::{MakeVisitor, VisitFmt, VisitOutput};
+
+use std::fmt;
+use tracing_core::field::{Field, Visit};
+
+/// A `MakeVisitor` wrapper that wraps a visitor that writes formatted output so
+/// that a delimiter is inserted between writing formatted field values.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Delimited<D, V> {
+    delimiter: D,
+    inner: V,
+}
+
+/// A visitor wrapper that inserts a delimiter after the wrapped visitor formats
+/// a field value.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct VisitDelimited<D, V> {
+    delimiter: D,
+    seen: bool,
+    inner: V,
+    err: fmt::Result,
+}
+
+// === impl Delimited ===
+
+impl<D, V, T> MakeVisitor<T> for Delimited<D, V>
+where
+    D: AsRef<str> + Clone,
+    V: MakeVisitor<T>,
+    V::Visitor: VisitFmt,
+{
+    type Visitor = VisitDelimited<D, V::Visitor>;
+    fn make_visitor(&self, target: T) -> Self::Visitor {
+        let inner = self.inner.make_visitor(target);
+        VisitDelimited::new(self.delimiter.clone(), inner)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<D, V> Delimited<D, V> {
+    /// Returns a new [`MakeVisitor`] implementation that wraps `inner` so that
+    /// it will format each visited field separated by the provided `delimiter`.
+    ///
+    /// [`MakeVisitor`]: ../trait.MakeVisitor.html
+    pub fn new(delimiter: D, inner: V) -> Self {
+        Self { delimiter, inner }
+    }
+}
+
+// === impl VisitDelimited ===
+
+impl<D, V> VisitDelimited<D, V> {
+    /// Returns a new [`Visit`] implementation that wraps `inner` so that
+    /// each formatted field is separated by the provided `delimiter`.
+    ///
+    /// [`Visit`]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/0.1.6/tracing_core/field/trait.Visit.html
+    pub fn new(delimiter: D, inner: V) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            delimiter,
+            inner,
+            seen: false,
+            err: Ok(()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn delimit(&mut self)
+    where
+        V: VisitFmt,
+        D: AsRef<str>,
+    {
+        if self.err.is_err() {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if self.seen {
+            self.err = self.inner.writer().write_str(self.delimiter.as_ref());
+        }
+
+        self.seen = true;
+    }
+}
+
+impl<D, V> Visit for VisitDelimited<D, V>
+where
+    V: VisitFmt,
+    D: AsRef<str>,
+{
+    fn record_i64(&mut self, field: &Field, value: i64) {
+        self.delimit();
+        self.inner.record_i64(field, value);
+    }
+
+    fn record_u64(&mut self, field: &Field, value: u64) {
+        self.delimit();
+        self.inner.record_u64(field, value);
+    }
+
+    fn record_bool(&mut self, field: &Field, value: bool) {
+        self.delimit();
+        self.inner.record_bool(field, value);
+    }
+
+    fn record_str(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &str) {
+        self.delimit();
+        self.inner.record_str(field, value);
+    }
+
+    fn record_debug(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &dyn fmt::Debug) {
+        self.delimit();
+        self.inner.record_debug(field, value);
+    }
+}
+
+impl<D, V> VisitOutput<fmt::Result> for VisitDelimited<D, V>
+where
+    V: VisitFmt,
+    D: AsRef<str>,
+{
+    fn finish(self) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.err?;
+        self.inner.finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<D, V> VisitFmt for VisitDelimited<D, V>
+where
+    V: VisitFmt,
+    D: AsRef<str>,
+{
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn fmt::Write {
+        self.inner.writer()
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::field::test_util::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn delimited_visitor() {
+        let mut s = String::new();
+        let visitor = DebugVisitor::new(&mut s);
+        let mut visitor = VisitDelimited::new(", ", visitor);
+
+        TestAttrs1::with(|attrs| attrs.record(&mut visitor));
+        visitor.finish().unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            s.as_str(),
+            "question=\"life, the universe, and everything\", tricky=true, can_you_do_it=true"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn delimited_new_visitor() {
+        let make = Delimited::new("; ", MakeDebug);
+
+        TestAttrs1::with(|attrs| {
+            let mut s = String::new();
+            {
+                let mut v = make.make_visitor(&mut s);
+                attrs.record(&mut v);
+            }
+            assert_eq!(
+                s.as_str(),
+                "question=\"life, the universe, and everything\"; tricky=true; can_you_do_it=true"
+            );
+        });
+
+        TestAttrs2::with(|attrs| {
+            let mut s = String::new();
+            {
+                let mut v = make.make_visitor(&mut s);
+                attrs.record(&mut v);
+            }
+            assert_eq!(
+                s.as_str(),
+                "question=None; question.answer=42; tricky=true; can_you_do_it=false"
+            );
+        });
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/field/display.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/display.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d4b231dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/display.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+//! `MakeVisitor` wrappers for working with `fmt::Displag` fields.
+use super::{MakeVisitor, VisitFmt, VisitOutput, VisitWrite};
+use tracing_core::field::{Field, Visit};
+
+use std::{fmt, io};
+
+/// A visitor wrapper that ensures any strings named "message" are formatted
+/// using `fmt::Display`
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Messages<V>(V);
+
+// TODO(eliza): When `error` as a primitive type is stable, add a
+// `DisplayErrors` wrapper...
+
+// === impl Messages ===
+//
+impl<V> Messages<V> {
+    /// Returns a new [`MakeVisitor`] implementation that will wrap `inner` so
+    /// that any strings named `message` are formatted using `fmt::Display`.
+    ///
+    /// [`MakeVisitor`]: ../trait.MakeVisitor.html
+    pub fn new(inner: V) -> Self {
+        Messages(inner)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, V> MakeVisitor<T> for Messages<V>
+where
+    V: MakeVisitor<T>,
+{
+    type Visitor = Messages<V::Visitor>;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn make_visitor(&self, target: T) -> Self::Visitor {
+        Messages(self.0.make_visitor(target))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V> Visit for Messages<V>
+where
+    V: Visit,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_i64(&mut self, field: &Field, value: i64) {
+        self.0.record_i64(field, value)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_u64(&mut self, field: &Field, value: u64) {
+        self.0.record_u64(field, value)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_bool(&mut self, field: &Field, value: bool) {
+        self.0.record_bool(field, value)
+    }
+
+    /// Visit a string value.
+    fn record_str(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &str) {
+        if field.name() == "message" {
+            self.0.record_debug(field, &format_args!("{}", value))
+        } else {
+            self.0.record_str(field, value)
+        }
+    }
+
+    // TODO(eliza): add RecordError when stable
+    // fn record_error(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &(dyn std::error::Error + 'static)) {
+    //     self.record_debug(field, &format_args!("{}", value))
+    // }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn record_debug(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &dyn fmt::Debug) {
+        self.0.record_debug(field, value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V, O> VisitOutput<O> for Messages<V>
+where
+    V: VisitOutput<O>,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn finish(self) -> O {
+        self.0.finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V> VisitWrite for Messages<V>
+where
+    V: VisitWrite,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn io::Write {
+        self.0.writer()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<V> VisitFmt for Messages<V>
+where
+    V: VisitFmt,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn fmt::Write {
+        self.0.writer()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/field/mod.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b523aebe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/field/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,361 @@
+//! Utilities for working with [fields] and [field visitors].
+//!
+//! [fields]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/field/index.html
+//! [field visitors]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/field/trait.Visit.html
+use std::{fmt, io};
+pub use tracing_core::field::Visit;
+use tracing_core::{
+    span::{Attributes, Record},
+    Event,
+};
+pub mod debug;
+pub mod delimited;
+pub mod display;
+
+/// Creates new [visitors].
+///
+/// A type implementing `MakeVisitor` represents a composable factory for types
+/// implementing the [`Visit` trait][visitors]. The `MakeVisitor` trait defines
+/// a single function, `make_visitor`, which takes in a `T`-typed `target` and
+/// returns a type implementing `Visit` configured for that target. A target may
+/// be a string, output stream, or data structure that the visitor will record
+/// data to, configuration variables that determine the visitor's behavior, or
+/// `()` when no input is required to produce a visitor.
+///
+/// [visitors]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/field/trait.Visit.html
+pub trait MakeVisitor<T> {
+    /// The visitor type produced by this `MakeVisitor`.
+    type Visitor: Visit;
+
+    /// Make a new visitor for the provided `target`.
+    fn make_visitor(&self, target: T) -> Self::Visitor;
+}
+
+/// A [visitor] that produces output once it has visited a set of fields.
+///
+/// [visitor]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/field/trait.Visit.html
+pub trait VisitOutput<Out>: Visit {
+    /// Completes the visitor, returning any output.
+    ///
+    /// This is called once a full set of fields has been visited.
+    fn finish(self) -> Out;
+
+    /// Visit a set of fields, and return the output of finishing the visitor
+    /// once the fields have been visited.
+    fn visit<R>(mut self, fields: &R) -> Out
+    where
+        R: RecordFields,
+        Self: Sized,
+    {
+        fields.record(&mut self);
+        self.finish()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Extension trait implemented by types which can be recorded by a [visitor].
+///
+/// This allows writing code that is generic over `tracing_core`'s
+/// [`span::Attributes`][attr], [`span::Record`][rec], and [`Event`][event]
+/// types. These types all provide inherent `record` methods that allow a
+/// visitor to record their fields, but there is no common trait representing this.
+///
+/// With `RecordFields`, we can write code like this:
+/// ```
+/// use tracing_core::field::Visit;
+/// # use tracing_core::field::Field;
+/// use tracing_subscriber::field::RecordFields;
+///
+/// struct MyVisitor {
+///     // ...
+/// }
+/// # impl MyVisitor { fn new() -> Self { Self{} } }
+/// impl Visit for MyVisitor {
+///     // ...
+/// # fn record_debug(&mut self, _: &Field, _: &dyn std::fmt::Debug) {}
+/// }
+///
+/// fn record_with_my_visitor<R>(r: R)
+/// where
+///     R: RecordFields,
+/// {
+///     let mut visitor = MyVisitor::new();
+///     r.record(&mut visitor);
+/// }
+/// # fn main() {}
+/// ```
+/// [visitor]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/field/trait.Visit.html
+/// [attr]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/span/struct.Attributes.html
+/// [rec]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/span/struct.Record.html
+/// [event]: https://docs.rs/tracing-core/latest/tracing_core/event/struct.Event.html
+pub trait RecordFields: crate::sealed::Sealed<RecordFieldsMarker> {
+    /// Record all the fields in `self` with the provided `visitor`.
+    fn record(&self, visitor: &mut dyn Visit);
+}
+
+/// Extension trait implemented for all `MakeVisitor` implementations that
+/// produce a visitor implementing `VisitOutput`.
+pub trait MakeOutput<T, Out>
+where
+    Self: MakeVisitor<T> + crate::sealed::Sealed<(T, Out)>,
+    Self::Visitor: VisitOutput<Out>,
+{
+    /// Visits all fields in `fields` with a new visitor constructed from
+    /// `target`.
+    fn visit_with<F>(&self, target: T, fields: &F) -> Out
+    where
+        F: RecordFields,
+    {
+        self.make_visitor(target).visit(fields)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Extension trait implemented by visitors to indicate that they write to an
+/// `io::Write` instance, and allow access to that writer.
+pub trait VisitWrite: VisitOutput<Result<(), io::Error>> {
+    /// Returns the writer that this visitor writes to.
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn io::Write;
+}
+
+/// Extension trait implemented by visitors to indicate that they write to a
+/// `fmt::Write` instance, and allow access to that writer.
+pub trait VisitFmt: VisitOutput<fmt::Result> {
+    /// Returns the formatter that this visitor writes to.
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn fmt::Write;
+}
+
+/// Extension trait providing `MakeVisitor` combinators.
+pub trait MakeExt<T>
+where
+    Self: MakeVisitor<T> + Sized,
+    Self: crate::sealed::Sealed<MakeExtMarker<T>>,
+{
+    /// Wraps `self` so that any `fmt::Debug` fields are recorded using the
+    /// alternate formatter (`{:#?}`).
+    fn debug_alt(self) -> debug::Alt<Self> {
+        debug::Alt::new(self)
+    }
+
+    /// Wraps `self` so that any string fields named "message" are recorded
+    /// using `fmt::Display`.
+    fn display_messages(self) -> display::Messages<Self> {
+        display::Messages::new(self)
+    }
+
+    /// Wraps `self` so that when fields are formatted to a writer, they are
+    /// separated by the provided `delimiter`.
+    fn delimited<D>(self, delimiter: D) -> delimited::Delimited<D, Self>
+    where
+        D: AsRef<str> + Clone,
+        Self::Visitor: VisitFmt,
+    {
+        delimited::Delimited::new(delimiter, self)
+    }
+}
+
+// === impl RecordFields ===
+
+impl<'a> crate::sealed::Sealed<RecordFieldsMarker> for Event<'a> {}
+impl<'a> RecordFields for Event<'a> {
+    fn record(&self, visitor: &mut dyn Visit) {
+        Event::record(&self, visitor)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> crate::sealed::Sealed<RecordFieldsMarker> for Attributes<'a> {}
+impl<'a> RecordFields for Attributes<'a> {
+    fn record(&self, visitor: &mut dyn Visit) {
+        Attributes::record(&self, visitor)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> crate::sealed::Sealed<RecordFieldsMarker> for Record<'a> {}
+impl<'a> RecordFields for Record<'a> {
+    fn record(&self, visitor: &mut dyn Visit) {
+        Record::record(&self, visitor)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, F> crate::sealed::Sealed<RecordFieldsMarker> for &'a F where F: RecordFields {}
+impl<'a, F> RecordFields for &'a F
+where
+    F: RecordFields,
+{
+    fn record(&self, visitor: &mut dyn Visit) {
+        F::record(*self, visitor)
+    }
+}
+
+// === blanket impls ===
+
+impl<T, V, F> MakeVisitor<T> for F
+where
+    F: Fn(T) -> V,
+    V: Visit,
+{
+    type Visitor = V;
+    fn make_visitor(&self, target: T) -> Self::Visitor {
+        (self)(target)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, Out, M> crate::sealed::Sealed<(T, Out)> for M
+where
+    M: MakeVisitor<T>,
+    M::Visitor: VisitOutput<Out>,
+{
+}
+
+impl<T, Out, M> MakeOutput<T, Out> for M
+where
+    M: MakeVisitor<T>,
+    M::Visitor: VisitOutput<Out>,
+{
+}
+
+impl<T, M> crate::sealed::Sealed<MakeExtMarker<T>> for M where M: MakeVisitor<T> + Sized {}
+
+impl<T, M> MakeExt<T> for M
+where
+    M: MakeVisitor<T> + Sized,
+    M: crate::sealed::Sealed<MakeExtMarker<T>>,
+{
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+#[doc(hidden)]
+pub struct MakeExtMarker<T> {
+    _p: std::marker::PhantomData<T>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+#[doc(hidden)]
+pub struct RecordFieldsMarker {
+    _p: (),
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+#[macro_use]
+pub(in crate::field) mod test_util {
+    use super::*;
+    use tracing_core::{
+        callsite::Callsite,
+        field::{Field, Value},
+        metadata::{Kind, Level, Metadata},
+    };
+
+    pub(crate) struct TestAttrs1;
+    pub(crate) struct TestAttrs2;
+
+    impl TestAttrs1 {
+        pub(crate) fn with<T>(f: impl FnOnce(Attributes<'_>) -> T) -> T {
+            let fieldset = TEST_META_1.fields();
+            let values = &[
+                (
+                    &fieldset.field("question").unwrap(),
+                    Some(&"life, the universe, and everything" as &dyn Value),
+                ),
+                (&fieldset.field("question.answer").unwrap(), None),
+                (
+                    &fieldset.field("tricky").unwrap(),
+                    Some(&true as &dyn Value),
+                ),
+                (
+                    &fieldset.field("can_you_do_it").unwrap(),
+                    Some(&true as &dyn Value),
+                ),
+            ];
+            let valueset = fieldset.value_set(values);
+            let attrs = tracing_core::span::Attributes::new(&TEST_META_1, &valueset);
+            f(attrs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl TestAttrs2 {
+        pub(crate) fn with<T>(f: impl FnOnce(Attributes<'_>) -> T) -> T {
+            let fieldset = TEST_META_1.fields();
+            let none = tracing_core::field::debug(&Option::<&str>::None);
+            let values = &[
+                (
+                    &fieldset.field("question").unwrap(),
+                    Some(&none as &dyn Value),
+                ),
+                (
+                    &fieldset.field("question.answer").unwrap(),
+                    Some(&42 as &dyn Value),
+                ),
+                (
+                    &fieldset.field("tricky").unwrap(),
+                    Some(&true as &dyn Value),
+                ),
+                (
+                    &fieldset.field("can_you_do_it").unwrap(),
+                    Some(&false as &dyn Value),
+                ),
+            ];
+            let valueset = fieldset.value_set(values);
+            let attrs = tracing_core::span::Attributes::new(&TEST_META_1, &valueset);
+            f(attrs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    struct TestCallsite1;
+    static TEST_CALLSITE_1: &'static dyn Callsite = &TestCallsite1;
+    static TEST_META_1: Metadata<'static> = tracing_core::metadata! {
+        name: "field_test1",
+        target: module_path!(),
+        level: Level::INFO,
+        fields: &["question", "question.answer", "tricky", "can_you_do_it"],
+        callsite: TEST_CALLSITE_1,
+        kind: Kind::SPAN,
+    };
+
+    impl Callsite for TestCallsite1 {
+        fn set_interest(&self, _: tracing_core::subscriber::Interest) {
+            unimplemented!()
+        }
+
+        fn metadata(&self) -> &Metadata<'_> {
+            &TEST_META_1
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) struct MakeDebug;
+    pub(crate) struct DebugVisitor<'a> {
+        writer: &'a mut dyn fmt::Write,
+        err: fmt::Result,
+    }
+
+    impl<'a> DebugVisitor<'a> {
+        pub(crate) fn new(writer: &'a mut dyn fmt::Write) -> Self {
+            Self {
+                writer,
+                err: Ok(()),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<'a> Visit for DebugVisitor<'a> {
+        fn record_debug(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &dyn fmt::Debug) {
+            write!(&mut self.writer, "{}={:?}", field, value).unwrap();
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<'a> VisitOutput<fmt::Result> for DebugVisitor<'a> {
+        fn finish(self) -> fmt::Result {
+            self.err
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<'a> VisitFmt for DebugVisitor<'a> {
+        fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn fmt::Write {
+            self.writer
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<'a> MakeVisitor<&'a mut dyn fmt::Write> for MakeDebug {
+        type Visitor = DebugVisitor<'a>;
+        fn make_visitor(&self, w: &'a mut dyn fmt::Write) -> DebugVisitor<'a> {
+            DebugVisitor::new(w)
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/format.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/format.rs
index ed341b21..b9c37e3c 100644
--- a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/format.rs
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/format.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 //! Formatters for logging `tracing` events.
 use super::span;
 use super::time::{self, FormatTime, SystemTime};
-#[cfg(feature = "tracing-log")]
-use tracing_log::NormalizeEvent;
-
+use crate::field::{MakeOutput, MakeVisitor, RecordFields, VisitFmt, VisitOutput};
 use std::fmt::{self, Write};
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use tracing_core::{
-    field::{self, Field},
+    field::{self, Field, Visit},
     Event, Level,
 };
+#[cfg(feature = "tracing-log")]
+use tracing_log::NormalizeEvent;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "ansi")]
 use ansi_term::{Colour, Style};
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ use ansi_term::{Colour, Style};
 /// dispatched to [`FmtSubscriber`], the subscriber forwards it to its associated `FormatEvent` to
 /// emit a log message.
 ///
-/// This trait is already implemented for function pointers with the same signature as `format`.
+/// This trait is already implemented for function pointers with the same
+/// signature as `format_event`.
+///
+/// [`FmtSubscriber`]: ../fmt/struct.Subscriber.html
 pub trait FormatEvent<N> {
     /// Write a log message for `Event` in `Context` to the given `Write`.
     fn format_event(
@@ -43,7 +46,50 @@ impl<N> FormatEvent<N>
         (*self)(ctx, writer, event)
     }
 }
+/// A type that can format a [set of fields] to a `fmt::Write`.
+///
+/// `FormatFields` is primarily used in the context of [`FmtSubscriber`]. Each
+/// time a span or event with fields is recorded, the subscriber will format
+/// those fields with its associated `FormatFields` implementation.
+///
+/// [set of fields]: ../field/trait.RecordFields.html
+/// [`FmtSubscriber`]: ../fmt/struct.Subscriber.html
+pub trait FormatFields<'writer> {
+    /// Format the provided `fields` to the provided `writer`, returning a result.
+    fn format_fields<R: RecordFields>(
+        &self,
+        writer: &'writer mut dyn fmt::Write,
+        fields: R,
+    ) -> fmt::Result;
+}
 
+/// Returns a [`FormatFields`] implementation that formats fields using the
+/// provided function or closure.
+///
+/// [`FormatFields`]: trait.FormatFields.html
+pub fn debug_fn<F>(f: F) -> FieldFn<F>
+where
+    F: Fn(&mut dyn fmt::Write, &Field, &dyn fmt::Debug) -> fmt::Result + Clone,
+{
+    FieldFn(f)
+}
+
+/// A [`FormatFields`] implementation that formats fields by calling a function
+/// or closure.
+///
+/// [`FormatFields`]: trait.FormatFields.html
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct FieldFn<F>(F);
+/// The [visitor] produced by [`FieldFn`]'s [`MakeVisitor`] implementation.
+///
+/// [visitor]: ../../field/trait.Visit.html
+/// [`FieldFn`]: struct.FieldFn.html
+/// [`MakeVisitor`]: ../../field/trait.MakeVisitor.html
+pub struct FieldFnVisitor<'a, F> {
+    f: F,
+    writer: &'a mut dyn fmt::Write,
+    result: fmt::Result,
+}
 /// Marker for `Format` that indicates that the compact log format should be used.
 ///
 /// The compact format only includes the fields from the most recently entered span.
@@ -131,7 +177,7 @@ impl<F, T> Format<F, T> {
 
 impl<N, T> FormatEvent<N> for Format<Full, T>
 where
-    N: for<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a>,
+    N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
     T: FormatTime,
 {
     fn format_event(
@@ -176,17 +222,14 @@ where
                 ""
             }
         )?;
-        {
-            let mut recorder = ctx.new_visitor(writer, true);
-            event.record(&mut recorder);
-        }
+        ctx.format_fields(writer, event)?;
         writeln!(writer)
     }
 }
 
 impl<N, T> FormatEvent<N> for Format<Compact, T>
 where
-    N: for<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a>,
+    N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
     T: FormatTime,
 {
     fn format_event(
@@ -230,60 +273,107 @@ where
                 ""
             }
         )?;
-        {
-            let mut recorder = ctx.new_visitor(writer, true);
-            event.record(&mut recorder);
-        }
+        ctx.format_fields(writer, event)?;
         ctx.with_current(|(_, span)| write!(writer, " {}", span.fields()))
             .unwrap_or(Ok(()))?;
         writeln!(writer)
     }
 }
 
-/// The default implementation of `NewVisitor` that records fields using the
-/// default format.
+// === impl FormatFields ===
+
+impl<'writer, M> FormatFields<'writer> for M
+where
+    M: MakeOutput<&'writer mut dyn fmt::Write, fmt::Result>,
+    M::Visitor: VisitFmt + VisitOutput<fmt::Result>,
+{
+    fn format_fields<R: RecordFields>(
+        &self,
+        writer: &'writer mut dyn fmt::Write,
+        fields: R,
+    ) -> fmt::Result {
+        let mut v = self.make_visitor(writer);
+        fields.record(&mut v);
+        v.finish()
+    }
+}
+/// The default [`FormatFields`] implementation.
+///
+/// [`FormatFields`]: trait.FormatFields.html
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct NewRecorder {
-    _p: (),
+pub struct DefaultFields {
+    // reserve the ability to add fields to this without causing a breaking
+    // change in the future.
+    _private: (),
 }
 
-impl NewRecorder {
-    pub(crate) fn new() -> Self {
-        Self { _p: () }
+/// The [visitor] produced by [`DefaultFields`]'s [`MakeVisitor`] implementation.
+///
+/// [visitor]: ../../field/trait.Visit.html
+/// [`DefaultFields`]: struct.DefaultFields.html
+/// [`MakeVisitor`]: ../../field/trait.MakeVisitor.html
+pub struct DefaultVisitor<'a> {
+    writer: &'a mut dyn Write,
+    is_empty: bool,
+    result: fmt::Result,
+}
+
+impl DefaultFields {
+    /// Returns a new default [`FormatFields`] implementation.
+    ///
+    /// [`FormatFields`]: trait.FormatFields.html
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self { _private: () }
     }
 }
 
-/// A visitor that records fields using the default format.
-pub struct Recorder<'a> {
-    writer: &'a mut dyn Write,
-    is_empty: bool,
+impl Default for DefaultFields {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
 }
 
-impl<'a> Recorder<'a> {
-    pub(crate) fn new(writer: &'a mut dyn Write, is_empty: bool) -> Self {
-        Self { writer, is_empty }
+impl<'a> MakeVisitor<&'a mut dyn Write> for DefaultFields {
+    type Visitor = DefaultVisitor<'a>;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn make_visitor(&self, target: &'a mut dyn Write) -> Self::Visitor {
+        DefaultVisitor::new(target, true)
+    }
+}
+
+// === impl DefaultVisitor ===
+
+impl<'a> DefaultVisitor<'a> {
+    /// Returns a new default visitor that formats to the provided `writer`.
+    ///
+    /// # Arguments
+    /// - `writer`: the writer to format to.
+    /// - `is_empty`: whether or not any fields have been previously written to
+    ///   that writer.
+    pub fn new(writer: &'a mut dyn Write, is_empty: bool) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            writer,
+            is_empty,
+            result: Ok(()),
+        }
     }
 
     fn maybe_pad(&mut self) {
         if self.is_empty {
             self.is_empty = false;
         } else {
-            let _ = write!(self.writer, " ");
+            self.result = write!(self.writer, " ");
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a> for NewRecorder {
-    type Visitor = Recorder<'a>;
-
-    #[inline]
-    fn make(&self, writer: &'a mut dyn Write, is_empty: bool) -> Self::Visitor {
-        Recorder::new(writer, is_empty)
-    }
-}
-
-impl<'a> field::Visit for Recorder<'a> {
+impl<'a> field::Visit for DefaultVisitor<'a> {
     fn record_str(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &str) {
+        if self.result.is_err() {
+            return;
+        }
+
         if field.name() == "message" {
             self.record_debug(field, &format_args!("{}", value))
         } else {
@@ -303,8 +393,12 @@ impl<'a> field::Visit for Recorder<'a> {
     }
 
     fn record_debug(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &dyn fmt::Debug) {
+        if self.result.is_err() {
+            return;
+        }
+
         self.maybe_pad();
-        let _ = match field.name() {
+        self.result = match field.name() {
             "message" => write!(self.writer, "{:?}", value),
             // Skip fields that are actually log metadata that have already been handled
             #[cfg(feature = "tracing-log")]
@@ -315,12 +409,24 @@ impl<'a> field::Visit for Recorder<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-// This has to be a manual impl, as `&mut dyn Writer` doesn't implement `Debug`.
-impl<'a> fmt::Debug for Recorder<'a> {
+impl<'a> crate::field::VisitOutput<fmt::Result> for DefaultVisitor<'a> {
+    fn finish(self) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.result
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> crate::field::VisitFmt for DefaultVisitor<'a> {
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn fmt::Write {
+        self.writer
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> fmt::Debug for DefaultVisitor<'a> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        f.debug_struct("Recorder")
+        f.debug_struct("DefaultVisitor")
             .field("writer", &format_args!("<dyn fmt::Write>"))
             .field("is_empty", &self.is_empty)
+            .field("result", &self.result)
             .finish()
     }
 }
@@ -344,10 +450,7 @@ impl<'a, N: 'a> FmtCtx<'a, N> {
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "ansi")]
-impl<'a, N> fmt::Display for FmtCtx<'a, N>
-where
-    N: super::NewVisitor<'a>,
-{
+impl<'a, N> fmt::Display for FmtCtx<'a, N> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         let mut seen = false;
         self.ctx.visit_spans(|_, span| {
@@ -406,10 +509,7 @@ impl<'a, N: 'a> FullCtx<'a, N> {
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "ansi")]
-impl<'a, N> fmt::Display for FullCtx<'a, N>
-where
-    N: super::NewVisitor<'a>,
-{
+impl<'a, N> fmt::Display for FullCtx<'a, N> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         let mut seen = false;
         let style = if self.ansi {
@@ -510,6 +610,62 @@ impl<'a> fmt::Display for FmtLevel<'a> {
     }
 }
 
+// === impl FieldFn ===
+
+impl<'a, F> MakeVisitor<&'a mut dyn fmt::Write> for FieldFn<F>
+where
+    F: Fn(&mut dyn fmt::Write, &Field, &dyn fmt::Debug) -> fmt::Result + Clone,
+{
+    type Visitor = FieldFnVisitor<'a, F>;
+
+    fn make_visitor(&self, writer: &'a mut dyn fmt::Write) -> Self::Visitor {
+        FieldFnVisitor {
+            writer,
+            f: self.0.clone(),
+            result: Ok(()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, F> Visit for FieldFnVisitor<'a, F>
+where
+    F: Fn(&mut dyn fmt::Write, &Field, &dyn fmt::Debug) -> fmt::Result,
+{
+    fn record_debug(&mut self, field: &Field, value: &dyn fmt::Debug) {
+        if self.result.is_ok() {
+            self.result = (self.f)(&mut self.writer, field, value)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, F> VisitOutput<fmt::Result> for FieldFnVisitor<'a, F>
+where
+    F: Fn(&mut dyn fmt::Write, &Field, &dyn fmt::Debug) -> fmt::Result,
+{
+    fn finish(self) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.result
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, F> VisitFmt for FieldFnVisitor<'a, F>
+where
+    F: Fn(&mut dyn fmt::Write, &Field, &dyn fmt::Debug) -> fmt::Result,
+{
+    fn writer(&mut self) -> &mut dyn fmt::Write {
+        &mut *self.writer
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, F> fmt::Debug for FieldFnVisitor<'a, F> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("FieldFnVisitor")
+            .field("f", &format_args!("<Fn>"))
+            .field("writer", &format_args!("<dyn fmt::Write>"))
+            .field("result", &self.result)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
 
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs
index a129c6a9..301786da 100644
--- a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/mod.rs
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@
 //!
 //! [`tracing`]: https://crates.io/crates/tracing
 //! [`Subscriber`]: https://docs.rs/tracing/latest/tracing/trait.Subscriber.html
-use tracing_core::{field, subscriber::Interest, Event, Metadata};
+use std::{any::TypeId, cell::RefCell, io};
+use tracing_core::{subscriber::Interest, Event, Metadata};
 
-use std::{any::TypeId, cell::RefCell, fmt, io};
 pub mod format;
 mod span;
 pub mod time;
@@ -22,14 +22,18 @@ use crate::filter::LevelFilter;
 use crate::layer::{self, Layer};
 
 #[doc(inline)]
-pub use self::{format::FormatEvent, span::Context, writer::MakeWriter};
+pub use self::{
+    format::{FormatEvent, FormatFields},
+    span::Context,
+    writer::MakeWriter,
+};
 
 /// A `Subscriber` that logs formatted representations of `tracing` events.
 ///
-/// This consists of an inner`Formatter` wrapped in a layer that performs filtering.
+/// This consists of an inner `Formatter` wrapped in a layer that performs filtering.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Subscriber<
-    N = format::NewRecorder,
+    N = format::DefaultFields,
     E = format::Format<format::Full>,
     F = LevelFilter,
     W = fn() -> io::Stdout,
@@ -41,11 +45,11 @@ pub struct Subscriber<
 /// This type only logs formatted events; it does not perform any filtering.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Formatter<
-    N = format::NewRecorder,
+    N = format::DefaultFields,
     E = format::Format<format::Full>,
     W = fn() -> io::Stdout,
 > {
-    new_visitor: N,
+    fmt_fields: N,
     fmt_event: E,
     spans: span::Store,
     settings: Settings,
@@ -55,13 +59,13 @@ pub struct Formatter<
 /// Configures and constructs `Subscriber`s.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Builder<
-    N = format::NewRecorder,
+    N = format::DefaultFields,
     E = format::Format<format::Full>,
     F = LevelFilter,
     W = fn() -> io::Stdout,
 > {
     filter: F,
-    new_visitor: N,
+    fmt_fields: N,
     fmt_event: E,
     settings: Settings,
     make_writer: W,
@@ -103,7 +107,7 @@ impl Default for Subscriber {
 
 impl<N, E, F, W> tracing_core::Subscriber for Subscriber<N, E, F, W>
 where
-    N: for<'a> NewVisitor<'a> + 'static,
+    N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer> + 'static,
     E: FormatEvent<N> + 'static,
     F: Layer<Formatter<N, E, W>> + 'static,
     W: MakeWriter + 'static,
@@ -177,17 +181,17 @@ where
 // === impl Formatter ===
 impl<N, E, W> Formatter<N, E, W>
 where
-    N: for<'a> NewVisitor<'a>,
+    N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
 {
     #[inline]
     fn ctx(&self) -> span::Context<'_, N> {
-        span::Context::new(&self.spans, &self.new_visitor)
+        span::Context::new(&self.spans, &self.fmt_fields)
     }
 }
 
 impl<N, E, W> tracing_core::Subscriber for Formatter<N, E, W>
 where
-    N: for<'a> NewVisitor<'a> + 'static,
+    N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer> + 'static,
     E: FormatEvent<N> + 'static,
     W: MakeWriter + 'static,
 {
@@ -201,12 +205,12 @@ where
 
     #[inline]
     fn new_span(&self, attrs: &span::Attributes<'_>) -> span::Id {
-        self.spans.new_span(attrs, &self.new_visitor)
+        self.spans.new_span(attrs, &self.fmt_fields)
     }
 
     #[inline]
     fn record(&self, span: &span::Id, values: &span::Record<'_>) {
-        self.spans.record(span, values, &self.new_visitor)
+        self.spans.record(span, values, &self.fmt_fields)
     }
 
     fn record_follows_from(&self, _span: &span::Id, _follows: &span::Id) {
@@ -275,41 +279,19 @@ where
             _ if id == TypeId::of::<Self>() => Some(self as *const Self as *const ()),
             // _ if id == TypeId::of::<F>() => Some(&self.filter as *const F as *const ()),
             _ if id == TypeId::of::<E>() => Some(&self.fmt_event as *const E as *const ()),
-            _ if id == TypeId::of::<N>() => Some(&self.new_visitor as *const N as *const ()),
+            _ if id == TypeId::of::<N>() => Some(&self.fmt_fields as *const N as *const ()),
             _ => None,
         }
     }
 }
 
-/// A type that can construct a new field visitor for formatting the fields on a
-/// span or event.
-pub trait NewVisitor<'a> {
-    /// The type of the returned `Visitor`.
-    type Visitor: field::Visit + 'a;
-    /// Returns a new `Visitor` that writes to the provided `writer`.
-    fn make(&self, writer: &'a mut dyn fmt::Write, is_empty: bool) -> Self::Visitor;
-}
-
-impl<'a, F, R> NewVisitor<'a> for F
-where
-    F: Fn(&'a mut dyn fmt::Write, bool) -> R,
-    R: field::Visit + 'a,
-{
-    type Visitor = R;
-
-    #[inline]
-    fn make(&self, writer: &'a mut dyn fmt::Write, is_empty: bool) -> Self::Visitor {
-        (self)(writer, is_empty)
-    }
-}
-
 // ===== impl Builder =====
 
 impl Default for Builder {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Builder {
             filter: Subscriber::DEFAULT_MAX_LEVEL,
-            new_visitor: format::NewRecorder::new(),
+            fmt_fields: format::DefaultFields::default(),
             fmt_event: format::Format::default(),
             settings: Settings::default(),
             make_writer: io::stdout,
@@ -319,7 +301,7 @@ impl Default for Builder {
 
 impl<N, E, F, W> Builder<N, E, F, W>
 where
-    N: for<'a> NewVisitor<'a> + 'static,
+    N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer> + 'static,
     E: FormatEvent<N> + 'static,
     W: MakeWriter + 'static,
     F: Layer<Formatter<N, E, W>> + 'static,
@@ -327,7 +309,7 @@ where
     /// Finish the builder, returning a new `FmtSubscriber`.
     pub fn finish(self) -> Subscriber<N, E, F, W> {
         let subscriber = Formatter {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event,
             spans: span::Store::with_capacity(self.settings.initial_span_capacity),
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -341,12 +323,12 @@ where
 
 impl<N, L, T, F, W> Builder<N, format::Format<L, T>, F, W>
 where
-    N: for<'a> NewVisitor<'a> + 'static,
+    N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer> + 'static,
 {
     /// Use the given `timer` for log message timestamps.
     pub fn with_timer<T2>(self, timer: T2) -> Builder<N, format::Format<L, T2>, F, W> {
         Builder {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event.with_timer(timer),
             filter: self.filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -357,7 +339,7 @@ where
     /// Do not emit timestamps with log messages.
     pub fn without_time(self) -> Builder<N, format::Format<L, ()>, F, W> {
         Builder {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event.without_time(),
             filter: self.filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -395,7 +377,7 @@ where
     ) -> Builder<N, E, crate::reload::Layer<crate::EnvFilter, Formatter<N, E, W>>, W> {
         let (filter, _) = crate::reload::Layer::new(self.filter);
         Builder {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event,
             filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -419,12 +401,30 @@ where
 impl<N, E, F, W> Builder<N, E, F, W> {
     /// Sets the Visitor that the subscriber being built will use to record
     /// fields.
-    pub fn with_visitor<N2>(self, new_visitor: N2) -> Builder<N2, E, F, W>
+    ///
+    /// For example:
+    /// ```rust
+    /// use tracing_subscriber::fmt::{Subscriber, format};
+    /// use tracing_subscriber::prelude::*;
+    ///
+    /// let formatter =
+    ///     // Construct a custom formatter for `Debug` fields
+    ///     format::debug_fn(|writer, field, value| write!(writer, "{}: {:?}", field, value))
+    ///         // Use the `tracing_subscriber::MakeFmtExt` trait to wrap the
+    ///         // formatter so that a delimiter is added between fields.
+    ///         .delimited(", ");
+    ///
+    /// let subscriber = Subscriber::builder()
+    ///     .fmt_fields(formatter)
+    ///     .finish();
+    /// # drop(subscriber)
+    /// ```
+    pub fn fmt_fields<N2>(self, fmt_fields: N2) -> Builder<N2, E, F, W>
     where
-        N2: for<'a> NewVisitor<'a> + 'static,
+        N2: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer> + 'static,
     {
         Builder {
-            new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: fmt_fields.into(),
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event,
             filter: self.filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ impl<N, E, F, W> Builder<N, E, F, W> {
     {
         let filter = filter.into();
         Builder {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event,
             filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ impl<N, E, F, W> Builder<N, E, F, W> {
     pub fn with_max_level(self, filter: impl Into<LevelFilter>) -> Builder<N, E, LevelFilter, W> {
         let filter = filter.into();
         Builder {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event,
             filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -572,12 +572,12 @@ impl<N, E, F, W> Builder<N, E, F, W> {
     /// See [`format::Compact`].
     pub fn compact(self) -> Builder<N, format::Format<format::Compact>, F, W>
     where
-        N: for<'a> NewVisitor<'a> + 'static,
+        N: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer> + 'static,
     {
         Builder {
             fmt_event: format::Format::default().compact(),
             filter: self.filter,
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             settings: self.settings,
             make_writer: self.make_writer,
         }
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ impl<N, E, F, W> Builder<N, E, F, W> {
         E2: FormatEvent<N> + 'static,
     {
         Builder {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event,
             filter: self.filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ impl<N, E, F, W> Builder<N, E, F, W> {
         W2: MakeWriter + 'static,
     {
         Builder {
-            new_visitor: self.new_visitor,
+            fmt_fields: self.fmt_fields,
             fmt_event: self.fmt_event,
             filter: self.filter,
             settings: self.settings,
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ mod test {
     fn subscriber_downcasts_to_parts() {
         let subscriber = Subscriber::builder().finish();
         let dispatch = Dispatch::new(subscriber);
-        assert!(dispatch.downcast_ref::<format::NewRecorder>().is_some());
+        assert!(dispatch.downcast_ref::<format::DefaultFields>().is_some());
         assert!(dispatch.downcast_ref::<LevelFilter>().is_some());
         assert!(dispatch.downcast_ref::<format::Format>().is_some())
     }
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/span.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/span.rs
index ea8378c1..6238a367 100644
--- a/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/span.rs
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/fmt/span.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ use std::collections::HashSet;
 pub(crate) use tracing_core::span::{Attributes, Current, Id, Record};
 use tracing_core::{dispatcher, Metadata};
 
+use super::format::FormatFields;
+
 pub struct Span<'a> {
     lock: OwningHandle<RwLockReadGuard<'a, Slab>, RwLockReadGuard<'a, Slot>>,
 }
@@ -18,9 +20,9 @@ pub struct Span<'a> {
 /// Represents the `Subscriber`'s view of the current span context to a
 /// formatter.
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct Context<'a, N> {
+pub struct Context<'a, F> {
     store: &'a Store,
-    new_visitor: &'a N,
+    fmt_fields: &'a F,
 }
 
 /// Stores data associated with currently-active spans.
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ impl<'a> fmt::Debug for Span<'a> {
 
 // ===== impl Context =====
 
-impl<'a, N> Context<'a, N> {
+impl<'a, F> Context<'a, F> {
     /// Applies a function to each span in the current trace context.
     ///
     /// The function is applied in order, beginning with the root of the trace,
@@ -201,9 +203,9 @@ impl<'a, N> Context<'a, N> {
     ///
     /// Note that if we are currently unwinding, this will do nothing, rather
     /// than potentially causing a double panic.
-    pub fn visit_spans<F, E>(&self, mut f: F) -> Result<(), E>
+    pub fn visit_spans<N, E>(&self, mut f: N) -> Result<(), E>
     where
-        F: FnMut(&Id, Span<'_>) -> Result<(), E>,
+        N: FnMut(&Id, Span<'_>) -> Result<(), E>,
     {
         CONTEXT
             .try_with(|current| {
@@ -223,9 +225,9 @@ impl<'a, N> Context<'a, N> {
     }
 
     /// Executes a closure with the reference to the current span.
-    pub fn with_current<F, R>(&self, f: F) -> Option<R>
+    pub fn with_current<N, R>(&self, f: N) -> Option<R>
     where
-        F: FnOnce((&Id, Span<'_>)) -> R,
+        N: FnOnce((&Id, Span<'_>)) -> R,
     {
         // If the lock is poisoned or the thread local has already been
         // destroyed, we might be in the middle of unwinding, so this
@@ -244,21 +246,21 @@ impl<'a, N> Context<'a, N> {
             .ok()?
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn new(store: &'a Store, new_visitor: &'a N) -> Self {
-        Self { store, new_visitor }
+    pub(crate) fn new(store: &'a Store, fmt_fields: &'a F) -> Self {
+        Self { store, fmt_fields }
     }
+}
 
-    /// Returns a new visitor that formats span fields to the provided writer.
-    /// The visitor configuration is provided by the subscriber.
-    pub fn new_visitor<'writer>(
-        &self,
-        writer: &'writer mut dyn fmt::Write,
-        is_empty: bool,
-    ) -> N::Visitor
+impl<'ctx, 'writer, F> FormatFields<'writer> for Context<'ctx, F>
+where
+    F: FormatFields<'writer>,
+{
+    #[inline]
+    fn format_fields<R>(&self, writer: &'writer mut dyn fmt::Write, fields: R) -> fmt::Result
     where
-        N: super::NewVisitor<'writer>,
+        R: crate::field::RecordFields,
     {
-        self.new_visitor.make(writer, is_empty)
+        self.fmt_fields.format_fields(writer, fields)
     }
 }
 
@@ -311,9 +313,9 @@ impl Store {
     /// recently emptied span will be reused. Otherwise, a new allocation will
     /// be added to the slab.
     #[inline]
-    pub(crate) fn new_span<N>(&self, attrs: &Attributes<'_>, new_visitor: &N) -> Id
+    pub(crate) fn new_span<F>(&self, attrs: &Attributes<'_>, fmt_fields: &F) -> Id
     where
-        N: for<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a>,
+        F: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
     {
         let mut span = Some(Data::new(attrs, self));
 
@@ -343,7 +345,7 @@ impl Store {
                             // Is our snapshot still valid?
                             if self.next.compare_and_swap(head, next, Ordering::Release) == head {
                                 // We can finally fill the slot!
-                                slot.fill(span.take().unwrap(), attrs, new_visitor);
+                                slot.fill(span.take().unwrap(), attrs, fmt_fields);
                                 return idx_to_id(head);
                             }
                         }
@@ -360,7 +362,7 @@ impl Store {
                 let len = this.slab.len();
 
                 // Insert the span into a new slot.
-                let slot = Slot::new(span.take().unwrap(), attrs, new_visitor);
+                let slot = Slot::new(span.take().unwrap(), attrs, fmt_fields);
                 this.slab.push(RwLock::new(slot));
                 // TODO: can we grow the slab in chunks to avoid having to
                 // realloc as often?
@@ -388,14 +390,14 @@ impl Store {
 
     /// Records that the span with the given `id` has the given `fields`.
     #[inline]
-    pub(crate) fn record<N>(&self, id: &Id, fields: &Record<'_>, new_recorder: &N)
+    pub(crate) fn record<F>(&self, id: &Id, fields: &Record<'_>, fmt_fields: &F)
     where
-        N: for<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a>,
+        F: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
     {
         let slab = try_lock!(self.inner.read(), else return);
         let slot = slab.write_slot(id_to_idx(id));
         if let Some(mut slot) = slot {
-            slot.record(fields, new_recorder);
+            slot.record(fields, fmt_fields);
         }
     }
 
@@ -481,15 +483,14 @@ impl Drop for Data {
 }
 
 impl Slot {
-    fn new<N>(mut data: Data, attrs: &Attributes<'_>, new_visitor: &N) -> Self
+    fn new<F>(mut data: Data, attrs: &Attributes<'_>, fmt_fields: &F) -> Self
     where
-        N: for<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a>,
+        F: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
     {
         let mut fields = String::new();
-        {
-            let mut recorder = new_visitor.make(&mut fields, true);
-            attrs.record(&mut recorder);
-        }
+        fmt_fields
+            .format_fields(&mut fields, attrs)
+            .expect("formatting to string should not fail");
         if fields.is_empty() {
             data.is_empty = false;
         }
@@ -506,15 +507,14 @@ impl Slot {
         }
     }
 
-    fn fill<N>(&mut self, mut data: Data, attrs: &Attributes<'_>, new_visitor: &N) -> usize
+    fn fill<F>(&mut self, mut data: Data, attrs: &Attributes<'_>, fmt_fields: &F) -> usize
     where
-        N: for<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a>,
+        F: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
     {
         let fields = &mut self.fields;
-        {
-            let mut recorder = new_visitor.make(fields, true);
-            attrs.record(&mut recorder);
-        }
+        fmt_fields
+            .format_fields(fields, attrs)
+            .expect("formatting to string should not fail");
         if fields.is_empty() {
             data.is_empty = false;
         }
@@ -524,19 +524,18 @@ impl Slot {
         }
     }
 
-    fn record<N>(&mut self, fields: &Record<'_>, new_visitor: &N)
+    fn record<F>(&mut self, fields: &Record<'_>, fmt_fields: &F)
     where
-        N: for<'a> super::NewVisitor<'a>,
+        F: for<'writer> FormatFields<'writer>,
     {
         let state = &mut self.span;
         let buf = &mut self.fields;
         match state {
             State::Empty(_) => return,
             State::Full(ref mut data) => {
-                {
-                    let mut recorder = new_visitor.make(buf, data.is_empty);
-                    fields.record(&mut recorder);
-                }
+                fmt_fields
+                    .format_fields(buf, fields)
+                    .expect("formatting to string should not fail");
                 if buf.is_empty() {
                     data.is_empty = false;
                 }
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/lib.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/lib.rs
index 50706afc..f3a0c889 100644
--- a/tracing-subscriber/src/lib.rs
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/lib.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ macro_rules! try_lock {
     };
 }
 
+pub mod field;
 pub mod filter;
 #[cfg(feature = "fmt")]
 pub mod fmt;
diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/prelude.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/prelude.rs
index 327cca55..fa08fe3c 100644
--- a/tracing-subscriber/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/prelude.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 //! This brings into scope a number of extension traits that define methods on
 //! types defined here and in other crates.
 
+pub use crate::field::{
+    MakeExt as __tracing_subscriber_field_MakeExt,
+    RecordFields as __tracing_subscriber_field_RecordFields,
+};
 pub use crate::layer::{
     Layer as __tracing_subscriber_Layer, SubscriberExt as __tracing_subscriber_SubscriberExt,
 };