Influence on writing style

[Britchik]

I've noticed that I tend to write in a similar style to the most recent thing I've read. This is wonderful when I've been reading fantasy, since it fits my WIP, but doesn't work so well with other genres. For example, the other day I read a humour piece in SYW. When I went to work on my novel, I found myself trying to write in a humourous style, rather than what I normally would write. I'm a bit worried that my own style, whatever it may be, is too easily influenced. Does anyone else have this problem? Any advice on how I can keep my own style in my writing?

[TheIT]

That used to happen to me a lot, too, but lately it's gotten better. I think keeping to the style is a function of how far along I am in the story and how confident I am in what I'm writing. I also find I get influenced by reading how-to books. For a while afterward, all I see are the points made in the how-to's.

Are you still working on your first draft? Style can be smoothed out in the second draft once you know the ending. If it's first draft, just keep writing.

Good luck!

[Xx|e|ph|e|me|r|al|xX]

Xx|Yes, I actually do have that problem sometimes. And I've yet to get over it. I work around it, though. Only read two books or two authors while I'm writing, so I keep the same style. But even reading peoples posts here influence me! XD I think the styles influence me, but don't take over. So it's whatever style I recently read, with my own spice (note--not to be read as an "extra flair" or anything else that would imply improvement) added in it.

Hopefully, someone will have some tips. But, you're not alone, at least. :D|xX

[ChaosTitan]

Once you have fully discovered and mastered your own writing style, others should influence you less and less. At least, this is my experience. If you still haven't "found" your voice, you may want to consider sticking to novels that are similar to your WIP during the writing process.

And if all else fails, you can bring more consistency to your voice during the rewrite. Editing is a great (if sometimes painful) thing. ;)

[Penguin Queen]

I get that quite a bit. I find usually though that if I read back a few pages through some of what Ive written so far, I get back into my own style, as it were, and then I write like me again.

Or, as others have said, you can always catch stuff that sounds like someobdy else later, when you're editing. :)

[ClaudiaGray]

I've noticed this too -- it happens less now, but does sometimes still happen. It's easy enough to smooth out on the rewrite.

You can also turn this to your advantage; for instance, I recently had to write some letters from the early 1800s. I reread some Jane Austen before I did so to freshen up my memory/feel of that kind of writing. I think the result isn't a Jane Austen copy (I should be so lucky), but I do think it reads much better than it might have if I hadn't done that brushing up first.

[scarletpeaches]

I think this shows the value of reading in many different genres, or at least reading many different authors within a genre.

But like Claudia, I like to refresh my memory when it comes to particular writing styles. If I have a romantic scene to write, I either listen to mood music (my polite way of saying I whip out my 'boning CDs') or read some books/scenes/chapters to brush up, too. Same with action, or crime, or suspense.

[Kaytie]

I have found that the more widely I read, the less an author's style influences my own.

I like Penguin_Queen's technique of reading the last few pages of what I've written when returning to a project--aside from getting back into my own voice it helps me get back into the story.

[kristie911]

I used to have the same problem but I think I finally found my own "voice" and now it's not much of an issue. However, when I'm working on something, I try to stay away from similiar novels. Like if I'm writing romance, I read thrillers; if I'm writing a thriller, I read non-fiction or romance or anything that doesn't affect what I'm writing.

[BlueTexas]

I'm in the read widely camp here too. Also, I think the more you have written, the more you come to know your own style.

[Britchik]

Thanks for the advice! It is a first draft, so I suppose I'll just have to plow through it and hope I find my "voice" by the end of it, or at least sometime between finishing it and going back in for edits. I also think I'll go with the idea of reading the last bit I've written, that should help me greatly.

[Kaytie]

Britchik - I found that the revision process after the first draft was finished helped me create a continuous voice in the novel I recently completed. I bet you find that your voice shines through while you're applying that polish once you get there. Good luck!

[Anthony Ravenscroft]

I've got obvious influences -- Ellison, Lafferty, Rimmer, Wylie, Chandler. Yet, unless you've read most of those authors, you'd never notice it, emphasis "never"; I might not be superior to my hapless mentors, but I've certainly gone past leaning upon any of 'em.

Lawrence Block said (I paraphrase) that the first problem is writing in bad imitation of someone else, & the second is writing in good imitation of someone else.

He also said that copying is a natural & proper way to learn, & that it fades soon enough as your own abilities blossom, so don't get all tense about it.

[Sean D. Schaffer]

I've noticed that I tend to write in a similar style to the most recent thing I've read. This is wonderful when I've been reading fantasy, since it fits my WIP, but doesn't work so well with other genres. For example, the other day I read a humour piece in SYW. When I went to work on my novel, I found myself trying to write in a humourous style, rather than what I normally would write. I'm a bit worried that my own style, whatever it may be, is too easily influenced. Does anyone else have this problem? Any advice on how I can keep my own style in my writing?


What I do to keep myself writing in the same style as always, is to basically speak what I'm writing while putting it to tangible form. If the writing 'sounds' right to me, then I keep it. If not, then I don't.

To me, what 'sounds' right is anything that is natural to me individually. If I would talk or like to talk in a certain way, that's how I write.

This was actually suggested to me a couple years back, on these forums. Someone -- I don't remember exactly who -- told me that if I were to write using the voice I use in my posts, I would be able to write a decent novel and make it readable.

That's what I do. This is not to say it'll work for you. But for me, writing the way I do helps me keep myself focused and also keeps me within the same writing style.


ETA:

That post did not seem like one of my better ones. Darn it.

And in a thread about writing style, of all places! Grrrrrrrr...

[JoNightshade]

I learned the craft by copying the style of authors I admired. Over time, I incorporated elements that I particularly liked and made them mine. However I don't really think that I have one particular "style." My style is whatever the piece demands. For instance, writing from the perspective of a seven-year-old girl in 1830's California requires a completely different style than I would use for a 30-year-old bachelor in contemporary times. Even in third person.

To "channel" the particular style I need for a work, I usually spend a few minutes in front of the keyboard just getting into the "part" mentally, almost like acting. I think the characters are what dictate the style, so if you've got the character down, you've got your style.

[Elodie-Caroline]

Hi,
I have spent the last 7 years or so reading non-fiction books; so I don't think my writing would have captured any of those kinds of styles. Plus, the kind of genre that I used to read as fiction, isn't the kind of genre I write. I think that romance/thriller would look a bit strange written as horror, ie; Stephen King & Anne Rice lol.
I write in my own voice, in the kind of style that I would explain something to someone with. I've actually been told, by a friend who has already been published, that they liked my writing style :)


Elodie