who does YOUR writing remind you of and...

Mae · Feb 25, 2007

what did you do to fix it?

I am a little bummed out. I have just read the first 50 pages of my first novel, and realized it sounds VERY much like another well known writer's style.

I like her style of writing, however I am worried no one will want to read a look alike. What the heck do I do now?

Thanks for your help folks.

jodiodi · Feb 25, 2007

I don't know who I sound like though I think I've been inspired by Bertrice Small so my work has a touch of her influence. I wouldn't presume to think I sound like her, though. I wish I could.

I don't know if it's the hindrance you think it is. Some reaters like a certain style and like to read authors who have that kind of writing characteristics. It may be a plus for you.

Insert Name · Feb 25, 2007

During 1st drafts, and sometimes up to the 3rd draft, I sound like whatever great I am reading at the moment (and I'm always reading a great). I get inspired by reading the greats and since the goal of my 1st drafts are "story, story, and story" I can usually write it in the style or manner of one of the greats and then interpret to myself later. It's a little like shorthand.

Rolling Thunder · Feb 25, 2007

Stephen King talks about this in his book, On Writing. There's nothing really wrong with your work imitating another's style. After you finish the first draft put it aside and work on something new.

The key will be after you finish it, set it aside for a time, and then come back for rewrite/edit. You'll have worked on other projects, crafting new stories and improving on your own voice and style. That's when you'll start to decide what needs to be done to create your own voice in the first work. After the third or fourth edit you'll be surprised at how much can change.

JEP · Feb 25, 2007

My writing reminds me of a cross between Hunter Thompson, P.J. O'Rourke, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. I can only pray that it is 10% as entertaining as either one though.

moth · Feb 25, 2007

For me it used to be Dean Koontz. Actually it still is sometimes.

To fix it (I actually enjoy his style very much, but it's not my style), I write the first draft however it wants to come out and then fix it later. Meaning -- I know what I meant it to sound like when I was actually writing it, but it didn't exactly come out that way so now I'm making it more true to that original idea.

Hope that makes sense...

TrainofThought · Feb 25, 2007

People have compared Wally Lamb’s writing to mine. He emailed me a few times asking that I make a conscientious effort not to mirror his style it’s affecting his luck with the ladies. I told him if he wrote as well as I do he wouldn’t need to worry about luck, in my opinion.

Mae · Feb 25, 2007

Just goes to show how new I am to taking my new writing goals seriously.
You have all made valid points that I will keep in mind: patience grasshopper!
Thanks all. You really helped me.

(and thanks to the one who suggested I post this thread - you were right!)

Sean D. Schaffer · Feb 25, 2007

I don't know whose writing it reads like now, but in my younger years, my writing read like Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island). Of course, I've always enjoyed his writing style, and I would not be in the least bit insulted if someone said I wrote like him.

To me, that would be the finest compliment anyone could ever give.

scarletpeaches · Feb 25, 2007

At the moment I feel like I'm writing the crap even Dan Brown throws away.

TwentyFour · Feb 25, 2007

I'd like to think mine is a cross of Robert Morgan and Fannie Flagg!

PeeDee · Feb 25, 2007

My writing reminds me of...me.

Because I don't worry about it. Honestly, let other people make the comparisons and just tell the best story you can manage. I guess I'm okay with the game of guessing who you sound like, but it's the bit where you try to fix it that bugs me.

If you write like Isaac Asimov and try to fix it by writing like Raymond Chandler, you're going to get this hilarious stew that's probably not very good. I would rather you write like Asimov, because eventually that's going to wear at the edges and sag and turn into writing like you.

johnzakour · Feb 25, 2007

PeeDee said:
If you write like Isaac Asimov and try to fix it by writing like Raymond Chandler, you're going to get this hilarious stew that's probably not very good. I would rather you write like Asimov, because eventually that's going to wear at the edges and sag and turn into writing like you.

Damn, I was going to say I try to write like Asimov and Chandler combined, but I'm not going to say that now.

PeeDee · Feb 25, 2007

johnzakour said:
Damn, I was going to say I try to write like Asimov and Chandler combined, but I'm not going to say that now.

*cough mumble* It was sort of where I got the comparison. There are bits of your writing that remind me of The Big Sleep. Not specific scenes, just a shared 'tone' of sorts.

Sage · Feb 25, 2007

My writing doesn't sound like anyone else's (that I'm aware of), but if it did, I wouldn't be too worried about it. In fact, I might be flattered to find some part of my writing in common with a published author.

Anyway, just write like you write, & don't worry if it sounds like someone else.

johnzakour · Feb 25, 2007

PeeDee said:
*cough mumble* It was sort of where I got the comparison. There are bits of your writing that remind me of The Big Sleep. Not specific scenes, just a shared 'tone' of sorts.

Thanks. In truth I'm kind of striving for a Douglas Adams meets Chandler tone. I'm a ways off but pushing towards it.

PeeDee · Feb 25, 2007

The interesting thing is (interesting to me, you can please yourself) I didn't see any Douglas Adams or Pratchett, or the British style humor in your writing at all.

Which surprised me, it's become such a prevailing form of humor in books now.

We're horribly hijacking this thread...

ChaosTitan · Feb 25, 2007

I don't recall anyone comparing my writing style to that of a published author. I consider that a boon, because it means I am writing like me and not someone else.

PeeDee · Feb 25, 2007

I write like no author who has ever existed in the world, 'cause I'm so much better.

Sorry.

johnzakour · Feb 25, 2007

PeeDee said:
The interesting thing is (interesting to me, you can please yourself) I didn't see any Douglas Adams or Pratchett, or the British style humor in your writing at all.

Which surprised me, it's become such a prevailing form of humor in books now.

As long as my books are entertaining I'm happy. Doesn't matter who I get compared to or don't get compared to.

PeeDee · Feb 25, 2007

Unless the review is "He's the literary equivalent of the movie Ishtar."

johnzakour · Feb 25, 2007

PeeDee said:
Unless the review is "He's the literary equivalent of the movie Ishtar."

If that were true then the entertaining part wouldn't hold true.

rugcat · Feb 25, 2007

I would never cop to who my writing reminds me of. I'm not about to put ideas in anyone's head.

KiraOnWhite · Feb 26, 2007

I write like the book's an anime screenplay...but that's how I imagined to be, anyway. Other than that, my writing might sound similar to young authors, but that's probably because I'm one myself and has yet a lot of aspects ( especially grammar) to brush up on.

Elodie-Caroline · Feb 26, 2007

Besides reading non-fiction books from time to time, I've spent most of my life reading Horror stories, Stephen King, Anne Rice and Peter Straub etc. But I don't write Horror, I write romance/thrillers, I certainly don't write my romances like a Stephen King novel, that's for sure lol. I have never actually read a romance, I don't read what I write, so my writing can't be compared to anyone else's. My writing reflects more of the kind of films I love to watch instead, which are French films, and no, not blue ones; so my writing is purely my own style.

Elodie

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