Writing styles

Coco82 · Mar 13, 2012

Do you find inspiration in any authors out there insofar as that've influenced how you write? I just thought of this and was wondering of your syle is based off someone else's somewhat.

Yukinara · Mar 13, 2012

I'm somewhat influenced by JK Rowling. But it's best to develop your own style

BrumBall · Mar 13, 2012

I think we all are influenced by somebody, mostly subconsciously. My main influence is probably Stephen King.

Chasing the Horizon · Mar 13, 2012

We're all going to be subconsciously influenced by what we've read, which is one reason it's important to read very widely, both before you start writing and after. My style is amazingly different from most of my favorite writers, probably because they're all very different from each other, so I'm taking one element from here, one from there, and ending up with something that's very much my own.

backslashbaby · Mar 13, 2012

I take note of how Toni Morrison writes, but I can't really write like her, unfortunately. Still, it'd be great if my work were a pared-down version of hers

Of course, I have other influences as well. There are probably too many of those to mention, but Garcia Marquez is another biggie for me. My style is not like his either, lol, but those two are still my biggest conscious influences. My work sounds like me, and there's no way around that

folkchick · Mar 13, 2012

I've always, always wanted to write like Carson McCullers. Not even close yet. I also loved Jack Finney's style of mixing real history/alternative reality/satire. I'd die to be James Thurber. And Laura Ingalls Wilder. There's a couple others, but I don't want to say. They're too close to my heart and I don't even want to compare myself to their greatness.

Mharvey · Mar 13, 2012

I have different inspirations for whatever I'm doing. Jim Butcher for first person narration. JK Rowling for third person sharp focus. Brandon Sanderson for third person general. Stephen King for description. RA Salvatore for any action scene. Raymond Fiest probably has some of the most memorable, developed characters, as he takes some from childhood to old age throughout his series. And a little bit of all of them when it comes to pacing.

IDGS · Mar 13, 2012

I find I write like what I've read.

When I first starting writing seriously, I had just come off reading 15 or 20 King novels in a row. Did I try to emulate his style, either consciously or subconsciously? You bet.

My personal opinion - we're all nothing but a tapestry of our favourite authors, and indeed our least favourite authors. There's something to be learned from everyone, and only by reading diversely can you really find what works for you and what doesn't.

Best of luck, keep pushing it forward!

Susan Coffin · Mar 13, 2012

I love Stephen King. He's my hero.

Pikabuddy · Mar 13, 2012

Christopher Paolini and Rowling both subconsciously influence my writing, it seems.

Kelsey · Mar 13, 2012

I keep a notebook of especially fantastic lines I come across, and go over them every once in awhile. I really try to come up with my own voice, and stay pretty consistent. In one of my works in progress, an adult novel, I tried to draw out and simplify my writing, and was inspired to do so after reading "Little Children." But very rarely do I read something and think I need to have a voice like that.

muravyets · Mar 13, 2012

I make a conscious effort not to emulate the writers I admire because I want to become the best Me I can manage, not settle for being a second- or third-rate Them. I try instead to learn from their techniques.

That said, it is definitely a conscious effort, because it's so easy for me to fall unwittingly into writing in the voice of whatever I've recently enjoyed reading. I try to avoid reading novels while I'm writing because of that. I read during breaks in writing.

wishflower · Mar 13, 2012

I enjoy such a random assortment of things that my writing doesn't stand out to me as being like anyone in particular. I read whatever strikes my fancy: romance novels, sci-fi, steampunk, political satire, hell--Buddhist meditation guides.

Some days I really wish I could write more like someone else, but I'm very much me (despite my best efforts sometimes it seems). If there are people I aspire to be like, it's most likely for their approach to world-building or something that just stands out to me as particularly awe-inspiring.

FoamyRules · Mar 13, 2012

Since I tend to write in different genres, I have many influences for my writing. Stephen King, James Patterson, R.L Stine, Toni Morrison, Zane, Haruki Murakami, Ryu Murakami, Eric Jerome, and I guess the list can go on and on. Do I write like any of them? I suppose not, but with each story my writing style changes. Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

blacbird · Mar 13, 2012

I'd like to write spec fiction like Ray Bradbury.

I'd like to write literary satire like Kurt Vonnegut.

I'd like to write lush magic realism like Gabriel García Marquez.

I'd like to write crisp noir stories like James M. Cain.

I'd like to write dark creepy thrillers like Graham Greene.

I'd like to write substantive comedy like John Steinbeck.

I'd like to write straightforward mystery genre stuff like Rex Stout.

I'd like to write Fantasy like Ursula LeGuin.

I'd like to write goofy breezy stuff like Richard Brautigan.

I'd like to get published like J.K. Rowling.

Alas . . . I'm condemned to write like me.

caw

Jamesaritchie · Mar 13, 2012

Coco82 said:
Do you find inspiration in any authors out there insofar as that've influenced how you write? I just thought of this and was wondering of your syle is based off someone else's somewhat.

I don't know about inspiration, but dozens of writers have influenced how I write. It's unavoidable. If you like a writer's style, you will, on some level, mimic that style. This is a good thing.

There really is no such thing as a completely original style, and it's silly to affect one. Style is how you put the words down on the page, and you can only do this in a limited number of ways. A way that works is what you want, and the reason we all like the particular writers we do is because we think their style works. So we will mimic it, like it or not. Bur we can't mimic it exactly, so some of who and what we are will come through.

But so will the writers we like most, and thank God for it.

If you don't mimic, you'll spend years doing nothing but realizing you should have mimicked. It's what works, and it's how we all learn. It's simply how the brain works.

It's the story and the character that really matter. Style needs to come naturally, and when it does, it will come filtered through writers we love. Or should.

Really, new writers often thing style has more meaning than it does. Find something new to say, and you'll get famous. Spend time trying not to sound like some other writer, one millions love, and you'll probably never get around to finding that new thing to say.

Coco82 · Mar 13, 2012

All very interesting ideas. I thought of this because a writer friend of mine and me were discussing this. I think, depending on what I'm writing, it may be different due to the mere fact different genres need to be written differently.

FoamyRules · Mar 14, 2012

Coco82 said:
All very interesting ideas. I thought of this because a writer friend of mine and me were discussing this. I think, depending on what I'm writing, it may be different due to the mere fact different genres need to be written differently.

This is true, I mean I wouldn't write my thrillers like I would my romances (although thrillers can have romantic elements and all of mine do, hell all of my stories tend to have some romance in them even if it isn't the main plot) and I wouldn't write my adult fiction like I would my YA.

Fallen · Mar 14, 2012

Other writers have sharpened my voice, taught me to how to relax. But I don't write thinking I'd love to write like that (I read like that and love/hate many authors because of it).

Marya · Mar 14, 2012

A few years ago I discovered Roberto Bolano and devoured his novels By Night in Chile, The Savage Detectives, 2666. I'd never read anything that amazed me so much and I couldn't bear to put his books down, slowed myself as I approached the end of each novel because I wanted to live on page 278 or whatever of 2666 for ever. For months after that I couldn't write a sentence that didn't sound as if I was trying to channel Bolano. Bolano, mi amor.

I joined a mailing list for smitten Bolano readers and we all sounded the same, echoes of Bolano characters. Eerie.

My ordinary, sadly unBolano voice has come back but I am about to read some of Bolano short stories and expect the worst...

plumsink · Mar 14, 2012

Most of my influences are from movies, weirdly enough. I find myself writing something and go, "wait, wasn't that in a movie?"

Other authors, yes and no. I think movies are a greater influence though. I see the book as a movie in my head first and then write it.

Buffysquirrel · Mar 14, 2012

I find echoes of Dickens novels seem to creep in. I don't encourage them, but I don't strike them out, either. Harmless enough, I think.

Ken · Mar 14, 2012

plumsink said:
Most of my influences are from movies, weirdly enough.

... weirder still ;-)
most of mine come from music. Charlie Parker, for instance. When I listen to him I'm like, "Yeah. That's it!"

quicklime · Mar 14, 2012

Coco82 said:
Do you find inspiration in any authors out there insofar as that've influenced how you write? I just thought of this and was wondering of your syle is based off someone else's somewhat.

i don't think you can read and NOT be influenced, somewhat, but i don't consciously pursue things so much as find things I choose to avoid.

N.L. LeBlanc · Mar 14, 2012

plumsink said:
Most of my influences are from movies, weirdly enough. I find myself writing something and go, "wait, wasn't that in a movie?"

Other authors, yes and no. I think movies are a greater influence though. I see the book as a movie in my head first and then write it.

This is exactly me! Movies and music - I believe someone else mentioned music, too - tend to be my biggest inspirations. I also see my stories as movies in my head before and while I write them... although I don't think I'll ever write an actual movie script. I much prefer prose.

I make a conscious effort not to emulate the writers I admire because I want to become the best Me I can manage, not settle for being a second- or third-rate Them. I try instead to learn from their techniques.

That said, it is definitely a conscious effort, because it's so easy for me to fall unwittingly into writing in the voice of whatever I've recently enjoyed reading. I try to avoid reading novels while I'm writing because of that. I read during breaks in writing.

This 200%.

Writing styles

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Keep Right On

Blowing in the Wind

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Not a new kid

Liker Of Happy Things

@LeaveItToIan

Tell it like it Is

Learning more every day

Book Slut

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blanket fort afficianado

Hamtaro Rules

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Stood at the coalface

In search of distractions

all out of fucks to give

Running with Pens

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