Let Your Writing Style Shine

            As much as I gush about what I’ve learned in college on this blog, there is one thing I am disappointed with – I struggle with my own writing style. After years of writing in a way that will please my professors and being taught to write like a specific author (whose writing is so to-the-point and minimal that I dislike their books), I struggle to write the way I used to. In some ways, this is good: I have abandoned many unnecessary words, and chopped off description I don’t need. However, after having to follow so many rules, I overthink everything I write and end up cutting things I probably shouldn’t.

            I didn’t notice this on my own. After I published my short story Heirs of Power, my mom read it and told me I don’t write the way I used to. Like I said, in some ways it’s good. But she also hinted that she liked my older writing a little better because I included more details and depth.

            This point was driven in more a couple months later when I paid more attention to how YA books are written. Compared to the author I was supposed to follow in school, every YA book was an information dump full of things my professors would probably mark off for “not following the rules.” But if we aren’t supposed to write like that, then why are YA books – and many other books I’ve read – written like that?

            There are a couple answers to this. First, it depends on the genre. Sci-fi/fantasy will obviously have more description because it describes places people have never seen and can’t look up on the internet. Genre also determines the tone of the story. You probably wouldn’t include comedic scenes in a horror story.

Second, it depends on the author. Every author writes differently and has their own voice. We studied this one author in school so much that we were given rules to follow based on their writing and were basically told to write like them. However, that shouldn’t be the case. Yes, there are certain rules we should follow (like grammar rules and how to start our book correctly). But if we’re stuck to other “rules” that many successful authors have broken anyway, then how can we make our writing unique and interesting?

I’ll admit that I’ve written a couple versions of this post in the past when I was extra frustrated at my limited writing freedom. In one version, I called for rebellion against the rules. Since that’s not a good idea, I’ll ask you the same question I’ve been asking myself: Are you writing the way you want to write, or are you trying to copy someone else’s style?

After recognizing that YA books are not written the way I’ve been writing, I’m having to do a lot of work on the novel I completed last year. It’s more important to pay attention to what’s popular in the genre and audience you write in than whatever you’ve learned somewhere else. Science fiction is written much differently than inspirational fiction, and fantasy than legal dramas. If you know what your genre looks like, write that way – but with your own style. Don’t describe things the same way other authors would and try not to make your characters the same either. Use your voice and the character’s voice to dictate your story, not strict writing rules that are often ignored.

            I was searching for a quote just now and came across a list I copied from another author titled “Words To Cut Out.” These are words such as “really,” “a bit,” “felt.” I see these in every book. Publishers and editors may have the final say, but if you don’t use those words often, they convey your voice, and they show your characters’ personalities, then where’s the harm?

            Anyway, I couldn’t find the exact quote. But someone (even multiple people) said that writing is subjective. You can’t place rules on writing. Our process, voices and styles, and the editors and publishers we use are different. Authors will give advice based on what works for them (like I do). But there is so much conflicting advice that no author can truly follow everything.

            My frustration with the “rules” truly began about a year ago when I was writing a story excerpt for class. I know I’m not good at creating humor, but I had written a couple of comedic lines that one of my very honest friends actually approved of. However, my professor marked off my favorite one for “unnecessary words” (based on the rules we had to follow), even though it went with the scene and the character. Both my friend and I were mad about that, and my friend reminded me that writing is subjective.

            Let me ask you this: If following “rules” means you sacrifice character, originality, and other important aspects of your story, is it even worth it? How are we supposed to be unique and keep readers interested if everything is the same?

            All this is to say don’t write like other authors. No matter how much you admire them or have been educated in their ways (or their rules), write the way you write. Be unique and interesting. Think about the reader and the genre and how you can make your work stand out because it is yours. If you publish multiple books, readers should be able to recognize your writing because they know your style.

            There are still certain rules we need to follow if we want to get published. But don’t let the opinions of one or two authors (or professors) cause you to abandon the way you write. I’m going to say right now that I will not let an author, whose writing doesn’t interest me at all, dictate the way I write my books. As authors, we need to let our writing styles shine.