Great writers are known for having a unique voice and style that sets their work apart from the rest. Developing a writing style that is unique to you can help you create better work and communicate in a more personal way. Your writing style should fit your personality and the stories you are trying to tell. Developing your style can help set you apart from your peers. Here is how to develop your unique writing style to improve your writing and communication skills.
What Makes a Writing Style?
A writing style is made up of two major elements that set your writing apart from others. Voice and tone are the two defining factors in any writing style and to develop a unique style you will need to know how to use tone and voice to suit your needs.
Voice in writing, is the unique perspective from which you are writing. Voice is dictated by the personality that you as the writer interject into your writing. Voice can help you make your writing unique to you. You can add emotion and humor to your work to give it life. Finding your voice is one of the first steps in developing your writing style.
The second factor that influences a writing style is tone. The tone is the attitude that a piece presents to the reader. The tone is developed throughout the piece through word choice and sentence structure. Tone can capture emotion and feeling and can persuade your audience to feel a certain way about your piece.
By combining a meaningful tone and unique voice you will begin to develop a writing style that is all your own. The more you write with these things in mind, the more you will find which writing style works best for you.
Developing your Style
Understanding your Audience
The first thing you have to do when developing your style is to gain a grasp on who it is that will be reading your work and what is the context that surrounds your writing. The style that you write in can be influenced heavily by the type of writing you are doing. Journalists often write with an authoritative style that builds trust. Narrative writers have an open opportunity to create a style that engages the reader and effectively captures their imagination. Understanding the purpose of your writing and who will be reading it is a huge factor when it comes to developing a style that is both unique and appropriate.
Read as Much as you Can
Reading other writers is a great way to figure out what writing styles you love and which you hate. From there you can start to notice the smaller details in writing that you love. How do those authors talk about things in their work? Why is it unique? How does this writer do it in a way that no other writer does?
When you start answering these questions, you will start to develop an idea of your own style. All of the bits and pieces that you have gleaned from other authors will start to come together into a collage that will inspire your style. Be sure to read work in all styles. You may be surprised at the things you enjoy. Having the ability to analyze the writing style of others will give you all the building blocks you need to build your own style.
Be Yourself
Writers often begin their writing journey as a fan of other people’s work. When it comes to developing a unique style, it is time to leave your idols and begin creating on your own. Your personal style can only be reached if it is based on your personality as well as your personal experiences.
Audiences can tell if a writing style is genuine to the writer who puts it on the page. When we read something wholly unique it is easy to tell that the author wrote the piece with vulnerability and personality. When authors try to copy someone else’s style or aren’t allowing themselves to come through in their work, the writing can come off as ingenuine or boring. When you put pen to paper, it is always best to let your heart and soul pour into your work.
Use all your Senses
Your writing style isn’t so much about what you say as it is about how you say it. Be aware of how you perceive the world and how that is unique from other writers. Use all of your senses as much as you can to find ways that you write about things in ways that others do not. The more you become aware of how you engage with the world using all of your senses, the easier it will be to write about things in your own unique way. Developing your perspective of the world can make it easier to produce writing that showcases your unique style consistently.
When you begin writing think of ways that you can display your unique perspective in your work. Avoid cliches and find ways to describe things that have yet to be done. Focus on similes and metaphors and how you can push your audience to experience the world the way you do.
Write, Write, and Write Some More
The only way to develop a unique style is to practice. Try your hand at different styles. See what you like and what you don’t. The more you write the more you will find what is comfortable for you and, more importantly, where you are creating the work you are most proud of. Practicing your style can help you fine-tune your voice and tone until it feels genuine and unique. When you find what you like best, try to recreate it as much as you can in as many different ways as you can. The more you practice your craft, the more you will be able to consistently produce writing that is all your own style.