I. What Is Writing Style?

Here's a one-sentence answer: Writing style is the author's voice in the book.

Okay, let me expound upon that.

In your book, you will have a lot of different characters. Main characters, sub-characters, antagonists, mentor-characters...and you. You, even though you're kind of like the 'narrator' of the story, are almost one of the characters.

Think of it this way. All characters will (unless they can't talk) speak. They'll have lines, and through those their personalities will be expressed. The author has lines, too. Any time one of the literary characters is not talking, the author is. Therefore, writing style is basically the author's style of speaking.

Just like any character, the author has a certain way of speaking--a unique style that sets them apart from anyone else. One literary character might use slang, another may have a tendency to say 'uh' and 'um', and yet another might always sound very proper and dignified.

Because you're one writer in a million, you need to develop your own writing style, your own literary voice. How do you do that?

Let's save that for the next post in this series: 'What Are Different Types Of Writing Style?'.

Yours without wax,

Izori