How did you develop your writing style?
By Transformed
@Transformed (1259)
United States
April 5, 2007 10:15am CST
Did you develop your writing style naturally or through writing books and guides? I've heard from a variety of popular as well as literary writers in numerous genres ranging from children's literature to horror and they say it just sort of happens, but that they often read a lot of different literature, just to absorb different ways of story telling. Do you all read certain books to develop writing style? I've read some of the classics as well as more contemporary novels by more obscure writers just to learn and enjoy a variety of styles across the spectrum. Do you feel as a writer that it is better to get "your style" or to allow your writing style to develop, change, add and drop things from time-to-time. Do you read any books on how to improve or alter your writing? I'm currently reading Stephen King's On Writing and find it to be an amazingly easy and unpretentious read.
14 responses
@steelmoggy (410)
•
5 Apr 07
Stephen King's book is a really great book - I recommend it to writers all the time.
As for my own style, I think that it ostly reflects the way I actually speak! Various people have told me that they can 'hear my voice' when they read something that I've written.
I have a slightly more formal style for business and academic writing, and a more chatty style for less serious work.
However, I do tend to modify my style for the customer who's buying the piece I'm writing. If they have a 'house style' for a magazine, for example, it's only sensible that I shoudl adhere to it.
1 person likes this
@Transformed (1259)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I tend to do the same when it comes to modifying the work for my audience. If I'm writing for academic or business reasons, my writing is technical, void of fluffy words and adverbs, and serious in tone. If I'm doing a creative piece, I let my words and language patterns go as far as my mind will let me.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
6 Apr 07
In regards to how I developed my writing style well firstly this started while I was in school, but then I developed my own writing style but it did help me in the beginning to how to write more clearly and legible so that others could read my writing and due to this, my writing became an asset to me as I received more work due to this as I did a lot of secretarial work and my work had to be precise.
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@eclecticsteve (253)
• United States
6 Apr 07
I've got books and books and writing, but I don't know how much of the advice I've consciously put to use. The same with the authors/books I have read. I'm sure some the styles filter into my brain, but generally speaking, I've learned that my style is what comes naturally for me, which is a conversational tone. That said, I'm really lousy at dialogue. But whether it is dialogue, description or whatnot, I believe the key is sincerity. Books on writing can tell you what to include, i.e., "when describing, use your senses," but how those senses are used to communicate is probably best left to the style most comfortable to us as individuals.
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@Arkadus (895)
• Canada
6 Apr 07
I find it's heavily influenced by what I read. And it continues to be, I noted some shifts to a rather darker style during the time recetly when I was readig a good deal of Lovecraftian horror. Something very not in keeping with the overall style up until that point.
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@tharanga (8)
• Australia
6 Apr 07
I would say that it happened naturally.I had never thought about improving my wrting styles.It has happened naturally.If I tried it would have been a very tired thing.I like reading articles in Magazines and when I see any good pattern of sentence I memomrise it and when I get a chance to use it I use it.I read books but not for the sake of developing or changing writing skills.Other thing I don's think i am a good writer too.There is lot to improove.
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@Transformed (1259)
• United States
6 Apr 07
What writing book do you use to improve your writing skills?
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
Actually I don't know how it happened. I read classics and books of different genres and tried to copy the styles of the authors. I watched action adventure movies, film noir, and various others to get a sense of style. I practiced exercises in various writing instruction books, and I also just wrote as I felt like it. I also imagined how a famous author would write it to get the correct flow of words.
1 person likes this
@faraza (159)
• Malaysia
6 Apr 07
my writing style would be from myself. if i read a book for writing guide, i will follow the author's writng style, and not the guide he recommended. the only tips that i followed was from my school teacher, start your writing with an impact, not the usual once a upon a time. from there, i only write what comes from my heart. and i'm trying to develop my style in mylot!
@thorrivic (69)
• Indonesia
5 Apr 07
I think everyone has their own natural writing style. But, there are many influence from the outside, such as reading books.
As for me, I develop my writing style by reading many type of books, from a simple fairytale to a novel.
It very helps me with the words, I learn more words through it. It doesn't have to be a certain book, any book is possible, you can learn from it.
As you read, and the you try to write, you'll see you're true writing style has been influenced by your reading. Even if you came up with a new writing style it's because you see something in your reading and develop it into something new.
So I think it's important to read first then write.
For guides, I'm not to fond for it, It's more exciting to learn from experiencing, to read a book and analyze it. To improve my writing style.
@uiwwitch (892)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I guess I was lucky to have been in a school where writing was given too much emphasis. I hated it when I was in school of course, but now I realize that practice writing week after week helped me a lot. Of course reading fiction helped me with the embellishments.
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@CinnamorollTK (263)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I've started reading a few book son writing to help me improve. I've also read a few on fiction since I want to be a novelist within the next five years.
Sometimes I'm afraid to write since I want ti to be perfect. I know its a lot to ask, but when I read, I think to myself "Why can't I write like that?"
I am aware that writers go through an average of five drafts per book.
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