How to Find Your Own Unique Writing Style

Tips for Finding Your Own Writing Style

The pursuit of finding your own original writing style can take some time. Our writing skills improve with every literary piece we create. In this article we are going to discuss:

How to Find Your Unique Writing Style.

Think about who you’re writing for Another really important element of writing style is being able to adapt your style to suit different audiences. Again, this is something that sometimes comes instinctively – just as you probably don’t speak to your mother in the same way you speak to your best friend, you wouldn’t write a Facebook status in the same style you’d use for a job application or a scholarly article. In terms of blogging, styles will vary from blog to blog, but, for the most part, blogs tend to be a fairly informal medium, which is why I use a very “conversational” tone when I write here.

Don’t try to mimic another writer.

You can’t develop your own style if you’re trying to imitate someone else’s. Read other writers and observe their style as inspiration, but don’t copy them.

What governs the way you write?

Writing for yourself is totally different from writing for an audience, and it’s a good way to find your voice and develop your style.

There is no easy or quick way to find your own unique style. It takes a lot of practice and effort. Here are some tips to help you along.

• Consistency in style, tone, grammar, and punctuation is essential to an enjoyable blog experience.
• The chaotic results of content without rules make the strongest case for the value of a style guide. If you need more convincing, here are three specific ways in which style guides help.
  1. Create the perception of quality and professionalism
  2. Foster consistency in style and tone
  3. Solve problems and settle disputes
• Let your writing flow.
Don’t overthink style. Just go with the flow. Style is a mix of conscious and unconscious decisions. Write naturally, letting your unique personality and instincts guide you.
• Write and write some more.
The more you write, the more you’ll be able to discover and develop your own style.
• Follow your intuition.
Lean on your background, experience, and personal preferences as you decide how to describe characters and settings, and add details and dialogue. Use the sensibility of a poet to select just the right word. Consider connotation and avoid clichés. These decisions all add up to create your unique style.
• Listen to the voice of your inner editor.
During the revision process, watch for sentences or word choices that don’t seem natural or harmonious. These places that don’t “sound” right are signs that they go against your natural style.

Here are quick tips to help you find your style:

Style springs from voice and tone. Voice is the authorial personality you assume. To find the right voice for a particular assignment, think about who you are as you're writing and about your imagined relationship to your audience. Tone encompasses word choice, sentence structure, even grammatical and punctuation issues. The tone must match your voice and your imagined audience. Try to settle on a tone that fits you best. You might vary it according to the assignment at hand, but only in degree.

An authentic style develops organically. Hone your craft by learning about all aspects of writing and your style will naturally evolve.