Read a book about writing or attend just about any writing workshop and you’ll hear plenty about developing your style.
Style is the way in which you put words together when you write. Your writing style reflects your natural speaking and thinking process and habits. Some people write in a very serious style, others are chatty, some use fragmented sentences, and others are verbose. The list goes on.
Our personal style of writing can “brand” us to our readers. That’s a good thing when we write books, blogs, and stories. We breed familiarity and a following when the reader can identify us by our personal styles.
Yet, many times, we write for others’ purposes, like magazine articles, a client’s marketing materials, ghostwriting a book for another author, etc. What becomes of style then?
We learn to adapt. For example:
* Magazine editors want you to write so your work fits into THEIR style (the nerve!). Most times you will be asked to write succinctly, get to the point quickly, and inform or educate the reader.
* If you are writing for children, keep language simple, and write in short sentences.
* A bold, brash corporate client won’t appreciate a meek or flowery marketing brochure.
* When you ghostwrite a book for another author, you MUST write in his or her speaking style.
Word of warning—if you are currently a technical writer or a reporter and want to write fiction or a memoir, you must develop your OWN style before you start. A book written with just the facts generally tells rather than shows and in today’s commercial writing market, this is boring.
Bottom line?
To be a good writer, it is critical to develop your individual writing style. It will give you your writer’s identity and keep you moving forward with your personal aspirations.
To be a versatile writer, learn to adapt to others’ styles. It will help you attract assignments and keep you moving forward with your professional goals.