Developing your own writing style and finding a voice that is unique to who you are and true to your values doesn’t happen overnight, trust me – I’ve been doing it for 15 years and it’s still “in process”.
The good news is, I’ve found, this process will happen without you even realizing it.
Knowing the tone to use, the way to structure your sentences, and what you want your content to reflect will be more spontaneous and less forced, and will eventually get to a point where writing will feel instinctive and of second nature.
The bad news? It will take a lot of time and effort on your part – but it’s the journey – not the destination, right!?
What Is a Writing Style & Why Is It Important?
A writing style embodies the voice of an author and reflects their particular way of communicating with words. Every writer, copywriter, novelist, and blogger has one. Accordingly, an author creates their writing style with the tone, voice, and personality they apply to their writing.
The level of formality, the sentence structure, and the general approach all play a part in distinguishing one author from the next. With that said, a good writer is aware of their writing style and can alter it according to the audience receiving their text, the circumstances, and the overall context in which their writing will be delivered.
A writing style is important because it gives the reader insight into who you are as a person. Writing can be a very intimate experience in which the author reveals a part of themselves to the public. In addition to that, it also represents a signature style that characterizes the author and helps their voice stand out from the rest.
5 Ways to Develop Your Own Writing Style
Whether you’re writing a book or an article, you need a writing style that is an accurate representation of yourself and what you stand for. Follow these guidelines to develop your own writing style.
Be authentic to who you are
When you’re writing, try to keep your focus on the point you aim to make, and say it in a way that is distinctive to you. Avoid using easy cliches because those only indicate a lack of creativity and they won’t make you stand out as a writer. Moreover, your choice of language should also be coherent with who you are but also the people you’re writing for.
Be present in your writing
Regardless of the narrative you’re developing, you want to immerse your readers in the story you’re telling. This cannot happen if you’re not present in your writing. So use an authentic tone and make your text captivating but also effective in conveying the small details of your story!
Use your life experiences
We all go through unique experiences that shape who we are as people. So tap into yours because they’re what can give you an authentic point of view on life. Incorporate these events into your writing process and allow them to inform your work.
Read other authors
Each writer has a tone and style that is unique to them and that they’ve developed over the course of their writing careers. Re-read some of your favorite authors with this in mind, or explore unfamiliar works. Focus on how they use words and construct sentences to detect patterns of writing styles.
Write often
All good writers strive to make writing a habit. The more they write, the more they’re in touch with their distinctive voices. One great way writers use to keep track of their writing skills is journaling. This daily writing ritual is a great exercise to make sure you’re writing daily all while honing your craft and developing your unique style.
