Posted on September 21, 2020 at 9:00 AM by Guest Author

Adopting a unique writing style can give you confidence, help you stand out, and more. Here’s some insight into how to develop your writing style and why it’s important. 

Table of Contents 

Why Your Writing Style Matters 

No matter what you’re writing — whether it’s a short story or lengthy piece of nonfiction — you should have a style that’s uniquely you.

When you’re just beginning to write, you may be tempted to emulate other authors you admire. But if you don’t put forth the effort to develop your writing style, you’re doing a disservice to your readers and to yourself.  

Why?

Because it means you’re not being your true, authentic self (as cliché as it may sound).

And when that’s the case, you’re not starting off your author career on the right foot, which can make it even harder to achieve the kind of success you want.  

Here are a few specific reasons your writing style matters...

It gives you confidence in your work. 

Cultivating a writing style that’s all your own can give you greater confidence in your work. It’s about becoming comfortable with the way you write.

Although you may still experience moments of doubt, you’ll have far more faith in your abilities as an author. Further, you won’t waste time worrying about whether something sounds like you.     

It helps you stand out among other authors.

Having a unique writing style also allows you to stand out from other authors.

There are countless writers out there, which means you need to establish your own creative identity to avoid going unnoticed.

When you do, you’re able to set yourself apart and prove that your work is worth reading.  

It plays a big role in building a fan base.

By building a fan base, you’re able to get more reviews, increase book sales, and ultimately enjoy greater success in your career. But it all starts with turning readers into fans, and that’s where your writing style comes in.

When people love your writing style, they’re more likely to keep reading the content you produce. So, you need to adopt a distinct style that readers can grow familiar with.

7 Tips to Help Develop Your Writing Style 

Before we start talking about how to develop your writing style, it’s worth noting that your style depends on several factors.

It’s largely influenced by your personality, the inspiration you get from outside sources, the conscious choices you make, and so on.

Therefore, your style will evolve over time. It’s just something that happens naturally. 

But when you’re first starting out, it can be difficult to determine how you want to express yourself and share your story with readers.

Ideally, you should adopt a writing style that fits you like a glove — one that’s authentic and easy to maintain. 

The good news is the tips below should provide you with some guidance. 

Now, let’s dive in!

1. Use your personal experiences. 

One way to develop your writing style is to use your personal experiences to your advantage.

As an author (and a person) you’ve had ups and downs in your life that others haven’t. Moreover, all of these events have given you a distinct point of view.

Allowing your experiences to shape your voice and each individual piece you write can lend greater authenticity to your work. Plus, it’s much simpler to start out writing what you know.   

2. Try to avoid clichés. 

Although it’s easy to fall back on common turns of phrase, you should aim to avoid clichés whenever possible.

The use of well-worn tropes suggests that you don’t know how to be original and have nothing new to introduce. So, it’s important to get creative and look for every opportunity to tailor your language.

A big part of having a unique writing style is telling your story or proving your point in a way that only you can. 

3. Read other authors’ work.  

Reading is an excellent exercise that can help you develop your writing style. However, you shouldn’t copy or compare yourself to other authors.

Instead, you should immerse yourself in their work and pay attention to what words they use and how they craft sentences.

This will allow you to familiarize yourself with their writing style and give you a better idea of how you can create your own. 

4. Apply your preferences. 

If you want to cultivate a writing style that’s unique to you, apply your personal preferences to your writing.

Whether you like short, punchy sentences or longer, more elaborate lines, go with what feels right.

Don’t let yourself get caught up in how you think you should communicate. Ultimately, your writing style should be an expression of you.

So, write how and what you want.       

5. Don’t be afraid to experiment. 

Even though your writing style should feel natural, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t step outside your comfort zone every so often.

Experiment with different points of view, tenses, and devices. Look for new ways to tell a story. By seeking opportunities to challenge yourself, you can develop your writing style and grow as an author.      

6. Allow your style to shift as needed.  

Certain elements of your writing style — namely your voice and tone — should shift depending on what you’re writing. With each new piece, take the type, genre, and narrator into consideration.

Although you shouldn’t throw out your style completely, you should adapt your personality accordingly.  

7. Practice by writing often. 

This brings us to our final (and perhaps most important) tip in learning how to develop your writing style: Practice by writing often.

Writing frequently and consistently allows your style to emerge in a natural way.

The ritual of writing a couple of sentences to a few pages every day can help form a habit and shape your style. Then, you can work on fine-tuning it.

Takeaway 

Having a unique writing style can give you confidence in your work, help you stand out from other authors, and allow you to build a fan base of loyal readers.

However, it does take some time and effort to develop your writing style. So, if you’re just starting out in your career, use the tips provided to guide you along the way.

And don’t forget your style will likely change over time as you grow into your author role!  

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Language, Writing advice

Comments
There are no comments yet.
Add Comment

* Indicates a required field