Your Style In Writing
This post is going to be random talk about getting your style in writing. How do people get their own style in writing? Why isn't there a common or known way of writing?
So, before we start. I would like to talk about the importance of reading which was covered in a previous post. There are many people who would say that you can write at any time. Because, all you need to do is to put chunk of text on a white board and that is called writing. But, I lean towards believing that writing is like a water gun. You can only shoot once you load it with water. In the same sense, writing comes after reading, gaining new experience or changing your own previous opinions.
I guess that was fair amount of talk about reading.
Moving on...
Given the fact that we are different in making choices. We tend to read or explore in different ways than one another. That is what I think gives us our own style of expressing ourselves.
Adding a note to this, some people who have not been writing for a while, may struggle in finding their own style. From my experience, I would say that reading in the topics that you enjoy and for the writers that you like, would make you unconsciously adopt or create a style of writing.
But, here is a quick question. Why are we always going back to reading?
Well, let's make it more simple. Reading adds to your knowledge all the time. So, if you were to write an article about something that you have written about a year ago. For a reader, it won't repetitive. But, for people who do not read, it is more likely to repeat what was written before.
Disclaimer: This post should be viewed for entertainment purposes only.
There's whatever you're trying to say, like an idealized idea within conceptual space, and there's how you end up expressing it. Differentiating between the two seems tricky though, because the how might be part of whatever you're trying to illustrate. Any which way, the map isn't the same as the territory but a depiction. Something something Marshall McLuhan.
In regards of developing your voice, the what and the how, I'm supecting it's really as simple as being yourself. Definitely a shitty vague thing to say, but it's writing. Not math. That said, it's up to you to determine what or who you are. Potentially in terms of realizing what you're not. Like I would assume you aren't a monolith but a work in progress that keeps shifting and changing.
All bullshit aside: It probably does boil down to reading and writing a lot, but trying to be unique while emulating someone else seems paradoxical. Same as that "trying to be yourself" type of not-your-girlfriend wisdom.
You know how to shake up the place 😎
What did you read, who is your example?
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What do you mean :-)? My influences? Honestly I don't read much and only picked up the pace somewhat recently. Books that is. Other than that I guess I speak to the internet, if that counts. I watch movies here and there, which might've had a bigger impact on me than actual literature. Which also isn't exactly a blue print for success, because I'm the kind of guy who uses Bing to farm Amazon vouchers (not an internationally lauded writer). Besides, I'm no film buff either.
Currently I'm reading Interface by Neal Stephenson and J. Frederick George. So far it seems to be about an international financial consortium implanting a politician with a programmable brainchip, after the latter suffers a stroke. Mainly because another presidential candidate threatend debt forgiveness and that's bad for the investor's portfolio. I'm not too far in, but I assume he's going to run for president himself and they're going to put words in his mouth. According to advanced polling and such.
It's an ok book. Mostly I'm just trying to understand filler and other things. So not necessarily in the sense of me wanting to ape Stephenson, but in terms of figuring out how a writer's brain works. Take that politician for exmpale. The actual plot points are pretty straight forward: Guy has a stroke and gets implanted with a chip that tells him what to do. But the bulk of the book are just descriptions of how things are. Including people. It goes into family histories, describes relationships, business, the media, or just stuff the authors seem opinionated about. Obviously in context of the narrative. Just little microscopic tangents about perfume, cultural stuff, or company logos.
I guess that there is always a gap between our thoughts and our skills to write and express ourselves. We always end up writing less than what we think!
That statement amuses me. I know that is a figure of speech and I get what you are saying. But, that works with everything. For instance, it's Rocket Science, not math. It doesn't make sense to say it in that way. But, the sentence remains true. Because, when you put (something that is not math), you can just write after it, it is not math. LOL
Jokes aside, I agree with being authentic. Everyone can write. But, not all have found their voice. The thing with reading, is that it gives you a shortcut. Instead of trying to write more and more to enhance your writing, you can spend some time reading which will automatically help in enhancing the way you write.
Reading is important but I don't agree it makes you a writer or that it is easy to copy the writing style of your favourite writer. If it only were that simple.
When it comes to your text, there is no need to say that it is random talking since that is what freewriting is all about. You let your hands type while you think about whatever pops up in your mind. That's all, and everyone can do that. There's even no need to edit if you don't like it.
We (who is we?) do not always go back to writing. Most Steemians never read not even what they wrote themselves and the same counts for everyone on social media. Careful readers are rare and here isn't the place where you find those who love to read.
I wish you wouldn't write the disclaimer underneath it isn't very pleasant and not inviting to comment.
Well, it doesn't make you a writer and I agree with that. But, there is a difference between a writer who reads and who doesn't.. You can see that in writing. Some people would repeat themselves over time. I don't mean repeating themselves in the sense of saying the same thing over and over again only. They repeat using the same style in writing over the years. If you see those people who read, their style of writing becomes more engaging and it is an enjoyable experience to read.
I think you know more than I do. But, if we include social media users. I can say the same thing about the people that I follow. Most of them barely read.
I believe, it's easier for someone to change their views or ideas over time when they read and that is a sign of growth. Their ideas become more solid. Still no one is perfect.
About the disclaimer..
I had no idea that it wasn't pleasant and I don't feel that way when I see them. But, thanks for letting me know that some people might find that unwelcoming.
Thanks for passing by...
There are storytellers people who don't read but are very entertaining like in the old days. There's no need to reed piles of books with the result you start copying the words or sentences of someone else. Next to that I agree with @grebmot that writers have their own style and why should that change? If they or the readers are satisfied there's no reason to.
Once a week there's a free "news paper" - village edition - where a guy in dialect writes a column. It might not be perfect but I like to read him once in a while (though I don't speak that dialect). He has his own style, and choice of words and is liked for that. Why should he change his style, write Dutch change his anecdotes into medical articles or write like Rowling (not a great example)?
At times a bit of variety of words make a story more catchy but it depends on what you write. I feel more annoyed about repeating the same sentence 15 times in a different way.
Views can change but a good writer is a good writer and why should that change? Plenty of writers are forced by editors to change their writing style or niche which is not what an author should do. Writing is art, a part of yourself and the artist should not represent an editor. Besides if reading does the trick how come editors and teachers are not among the top 3 of writers?
thanks for the talk.
Well said!
To an extent, I agree to what you have said that writing is an art. If someone's writing is good, then why does he need to change that. Plus, some people might be talented storytellers without being an active readers.
However, let's hypothetically take a random group of people and ask them to write a story.
Now, if we ask this group to read everything they could from poem writers over a year and then ask them to write a story again. Do you think that some of them may have a more poetic touch to the story?
In addition, there is no reason to read for someone who is trying to copy someone else (e.g. Shakespeare). You'd just read Shakespeare's books instead.
tagging @hefestus @grebmot
There's a writing guide I once read. Something 'On Style'. Either way, there's definitely somewhat universally truths regarding composition. Principles of efficiency, basic grammar, show don't tell and being evocative, or just not using too many ingly words. He wasn't runningly speedingly, he just ran. He wasn't running fast either, because the act of running already implies speed. That's redundant.
If you insist on attributing extraordinary speed, why not say: He ran like hell. Or, he was running like a dog trying to catch a car. Actually he was running so fast his already torn shoes started to disintergrate leaving a trail of burning bits and pieces. Or, if you're into ancient movie references: He ran like Harrison Ford on that poster of 'The Fugitive' he used to own as a kid. Or, like the T-1000 in Terminator 2. And so on.
My examples aren't perfect either, I barely speak english, but I think that's the type of stuff that's generally no bueno. But there's exceptions to every rule and someone like H.P. Lovecraft might fire a constant barrage of ten dollar words and every ingly under the sun, but it just works. It might even make the atmosphere. So who knows. I assume a good editor just helps you realize your potential, rather than molding you into something which you're not.
I think there's a lot to talk about here, and I can agree with most of what either of you three said (@wakeupkitty , @ronnie10 and @grebmot). I think reading helps in many different ways, especially, it helps you to think and to consider different manners of exposing an issue. It's unthinkable and unreasonable to expect that someone that reads Shakespeare or Hemingway will end up writing as any of them, still, one can learn a lot from any read. As a friend of mine who is a really admirable teacher of my native language keeps telling me, the important thing is to find your own voice. Once you reach your literary maturity, your writing, no matter the language, subject, length or form, will carry a distinct personality that represents yourself and is often inimitable. That's what we should strive for as we practice our writing, and, for the lucky ones, it will come.
It's weird. That whole idea of developing your own voice and reaching some sort of literary maturity seems great, yet something about it doesn't sit right. Not because I was disagreeing in principle, I've been saying some of that stuff myself, but... How should I describe this? I feel like the detective from 'The Usual Suspects' during that infamous coffee mug scene. The mug doesn't drop though. Instead I keep staring at a bunch of pinned warrants and newspaper articles - edging on a realization that never comes.
I'm not trying to be cryptic either. It's just strange. I'm squirming around in my seat making a lemon face and sucking in air through my teeth. Again, logically speaking it should make perfect sense, but then I feel like not seeing the forest for the trees. Whatever the magic sauce might be, the bulk of aspiring writers seems to be missing the point. Me included. Maybe it's infinitely more complicated, maybe it's hidden in plain sight. Something so obvious acknowledging it makes you feel dumb.
Best example I can give is someone travelling the world looking for glasses that were on top of his head all along. Just that, but in terms of your own voice and the things you want to say. Eric Clapton for that matter, one of the greatest guitarists of all time, supposedly doesn't even know how to read musical notes. I figure that's an indicator of something going on beyond common notions of formalism. Maybe it's the exact opposite of being mature, but doing it with confidence.
Yeah! It confuses me too and I'm not a sucker for educational formalism, nor do I confuse a commercial work with art. Most of what you aim to has not even to do with yourself but with the other's perception of what you do... And that, I feel is valid for most human efforts. Some times you just rry too hard and fail while the guy next to you steps on a piece of dog poo and gets noticed...
Maybe that's just life!
Definitely!
I don't like the idea of just being lucky, but as with everything luck seems to be a factor. Despite of that I guess you could argue luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Don't know if it's learning how to play by ear, knowing the right power chords, or whatever it might be in context of that musical anology. Either or, seems to be more than just mere talent.
Half related. I like playing scrabble with a buddy of mine who keeps crushing me. Here and there I catch myself thinking about luck, but he seems far too consistent for that. He just knows how to use the multipliers effectively, has a decent vocabulary and keeps cock blocking me from using my own words. Which double fucks me because I can't let go of whatever I'm trying to lay down.
Guess writing, or any art in that sense, isn't just having a perfect set of stones but leveraging them effectively. A good vocabulary probably helps though. Eric Clapton isn't a great guitarist because he doesn't know notes, but despite of that. But then that "despite" more than makes up for not knowing notes.
Aren't those repetitions what makes you identifiable? Take someone like Christopher Walken and those millions of impressions reducing him to a recognizable type of commonly accepted shorthand. Everybody instantly knows who's being impersonated, no matter how varied and nuanced the man might be.
I agree with what you are saying. But, I was saying repetitions in the sense of repeating the same information.
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Yes, Kitty,
but he is right in the sense that having read a lot of books does make it easier to get yourself going. In the least you are more knowleageable about what you need to do. Of course, a number of books written with the speeches of illiterate popular authors do prove that you don't have to read anyhing to contain a book within yourself, but those, are more the exception that the rule.
Trying to emulate your favourite authors is, of course, dumb. You really need to find your own voice. There can only be one Hemingway.
I always wrote and had over 50 penfriends (different languages/cultures) since I was 6 or 7 years old. I wrote on average 14 pages already at that age but was never able to write an essay. I did read, was fond of books and still have a few from my childhood but never learned writing because of what I read. If it comes to it I'm not even able to remember certain words or sentences. What I liked most was history class (and books) and the teacher telling about that time (and showing items, no idea where he got them). The teacher religion always uses one lesson to read out of a book. That was the best lesson ever. Everyone sat still and listened.
The penfriends program was great. I was actually part of a group called The International Friendship League that managed one of those and spent hours and hours every week reading and writing letters... That was the day. It brings back some very good memories.
BTW, what country are you from?
It were good times indeed. Kind of pity this no longer exist. All the penfriend programs disappeared only writing with prisoners is left. I am from the Netherlands.
Wow! The first time I went to Holland was for a Congress of the International Friendship League, in Driebergen, some thirty years back. The exact same association that did the penfriendship stuff. It's kind of a synchronicity, this theme. What a coincidence, the theme, and all... Still, I remember your country was one of the two or three with more penfriendship activity at the time, yes. :)
The activity still got an impulse with the first days of email, as people had still to be put in contact, but it totally died off with the appearance of social networking. I fear epistolary art, in what envolves the touch and smell of paper is on it's way out, unfortunately. No one can really spare the time anymore.
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We have some old never read newspapers. I use them fir the cat to check the urine. I said to my son this might be the last newspapers printed. Soon there are no newspapers, no books and what is left will be forbidden or burned.
It's a nice area Driebergen. My uncle lived there for longer till he emigrated to Lapland. There are still Dutch people writing but email killed a lot. By niw it is 1 topic per email otherwise people or AI cannot answer the question.
It seems as if the difficults if it comes to reading x understanding increase. It makes me sad. We face a nation not able to read, spell and write. Many do not even know how to use a pen.
Yeah! I loved Direbergen. Amsterdam is beautiful, but, somehow, I was attracted by the old part of Rotterdam. There was this cafe there that I still remember. All very pleasant people.
After thta, I've been to the Netherlands more times than I could count, as it was a usual stopover on my way to Lisbon while I worked in the UK.
About people not reading and appearing to be dumber than they used to be, It's worrying but not a Netherlands Exclusive. It seems to be happening everywhere. I can guarantee that, here in the South, we have the same phenomena and I could witness it everywhere on my travels. The most extraordinary example happened to me in Malta, in a supermarket, where the till had to consult the screen to check exactly how many coins make €0,45 for my change. It's got to a point where the situation is becoming absolutely ridiculous.
Enjoy you day. :)))