Writing and style.

[foxmonkey]

I've wondered about this one a lot over the years. Today's question:

Style. Are there writers you can pick out by style alone? If so, what is it that you recognize? If you're a writer, is having a recognizable style important to you? Why or why not?

Comments

[worldwouldend.livejournal.com]

I think there are definitely writers with a distinct/recognizable style. It's sort of like hearing a song on the radio for the first time and immediately knowing what band is singing it.

There are big things like a preference for a certain tense/pov, for lots of dialogue or none at all. Then there are subtler things like...length of paragraph or sentence. Punctuation choices (semicolon or ellipse usage/abuse). And things that are hard to define like cadence or rhythm of the words themselves. Some writing feels...quiet, calming; some is loud. For example, I always want to describe scot_ty's fics as quiet, though I'm not sure why.

If I really like a writer's style and it's consistent across works then I can be comfortable knowing I will most likely enjoy the next piece. But sometimes it's cool to find out they're capable of changing it up, too.

...And that's enough babbling from me. :)

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

I always want to describe scot_ty's fics as quiet, though I'm not sure why.

I am pleased and amazed, because I didn't think anyone else used quiet to describe fic. ::boggles:: Also funny, because I've told her that myself. :-)

I love hearing what people think on the subject of writing, so thanks for your comments! And please, if there's more, babble away!

[worldwouldend.livejournal.com]

I saw what you said below about stories sort of blending/blurring into one another. I think this has a lot to do with writers influencing each other and fandom merging into some characterization/style consensus. I don't know why this happens exactly, but it's also how we end up with so much "fanon," right? It's always very interesting to me to jump to a different fandom and see how the general writing style immediately changes. This seems especially true for fandoms that aren't so LJ-based; I find those writers often go for a more straightforward storytelling with perhaps less stylistic/grammatical finesse or trickery.

I don't know what any of that means, though!

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

I think this has a lot to do with writers influencing each other and fandom merging into some characterization/style consensus.

Characterization/style consensus, absolutely! That's exactly what I'd been thinking about, that the trap of fanon characterization has certainly caught its fair share of victims. Not that the fic is bad, but...it's just kind of sad not to be able to tell who wrote what.

[jewelianna.livejournal.com]

I'm stretching back to the Golden Age of Popslash, but there were some authors who I always felt were very distinctive. callmesandy's fics were always easy for me to identify by style. Her writing is very direct, I'd say. There was a clear tone to her writing, and it carried from her more humorous fics to the more serious ones. rhyssj had a very identifiable style as well. The balance between thought, dialogue, and description in her stories remained fairly constant. synchronik had a fairly uniform style. Not as much character thought in those, more action and reaction.

I feel like I have a style, though it's not important to me that it be recognizable. Hell, I'm just happy if someone else reads something that I've written, I'm not worried about them instantaneously knowing it's me. Although if it's a bad thing, I'd want to know about it. If someone shudders when they see me name, it'd be good to know why.

Your questions make me babble.

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

Your questions make me babble.

I *love* hearing that. :-) I want to hear any- and everything that's in your brain, and what you've said is exactly what I've been curious about.

There are definitely writers I'd recognize in a blind taste test, and I'd say Scotty's one of those. She's got one of the most distinctive styles around.

I've thought about it lately because, while reading a few pieces of fic one after another, they started to...not really sound alike, but the demarcation between one author and another wasn't as clear as you'd think it would (should) be.

Thanks for responding! If you have more to share, I'd love to hear it.
:-)

[jewelianna.livejournal.com]

There are certainly writers who have a style I don't enjoy, and looking at it from that perspective, it's fairly easy to find. I want there to be a moving plot, some dialogue. Stories that take place all in someone's head drive me absolutely crazy, and there are some authors who will write pages of description or memories of a character without any action or conversation. I don't want to name names when I'm saying I don't like a style, but I feel there are people who flow with that that more 'arty' style of writing which is definitely not my preferred style as a reader.

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

There are certainly writers who have a style I don't enjoy, and looking at it from that perspective, it's fairly easy to find.

And it's funny, you're right. I was reading a story yesterday and a couple of paragraphs in I thought, Yeeks! It's that girl who...; I scrolled up to find the author's name and I was right. ;-)

[silveryscrape.livejournal.com]

Well, I always think I can identify sesa authors, for example, but I'm always wrong. Still I feel I could identify your style, and the styles of some other authors in popslash, past and present - wearemany, lesasoja, callmesandy. It's a matter of style, yes, and word choice, sentence length, dialogue... all those things mentioned here already, but also every author has that extra something, like their own line, to use an art metaphor. Like, callmesandy has lots of long sentences with fewer commas, and she seems to be really concerned with what her characters learn from their experiences. Lesa's stories have this massive presence of everything not being said. Your characters, JC and Justin particularly, have this strength about them, maturity, maybe? Affection. And I know they're going to be all right. Tiffany Rawlins does this thing where she uses small details to suggest larger themes, like all in the course of a single sentence, so her statements have this really meaningful air about them. And Torch's absolute calm and beautiful control of the language is a favorite.

What's important to me as a writer is to find my own way of writing, grow comfortable with the things I want to say and how I want to say them. It's not so much important that I'm known for it. I just think it's easier to write if you have that kind of ease where you're not agonizing over every word, every sentence... well, okay, I do, but that's what I do. I'm okay with that now. :)

Awesome questions!

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

Torch's absolute calm and beautiful control of the language is a favorite.

The first story of hers I ever read was called...I want to say 'Ghost'? I don't think that's right...anyway, it was an X-Files fic, and as you mention above, just a beautifully written piece. I was *stunned* to learn that English isn't her first language. She's amazing. And it's not fair. ;-)

I just think it's easier to write if you have that kind of ease where you're not agonizing over every word, every sentence... well, okay, I do, but that's what I do. I'm okay with that now. :)

I knew someone who wrote that way. She started with an outline, and every sentence was perfectly crafted. I know she told me once that she didn't move on until each sentence was edited to perfection, but she must have been exaggerating. I don't see how anyone could *possibly* write that way. I do know that if she got stuck she did NOT move forward until she'd worked out the stuck bit. Me, I keep going and come back to the sticky patch with fresh eyes.

Now, when I do work on a sticky bit it may be for an hour or so, or hours, but to not move forward *at all* until that's worked out??? YEEKS! I'd still be on the second part of Chasez Lake if I wrote that way. ;-)

Your characters, JC and Justin particularly, have this strength about them, maturity, maybe? Affection.

Thank you! I want them to always be happy and loved. :-)

[silveryscrape.livejournal.com]

I'd still be on the second part of Chasez Lake if I wrote that way.

That would most definitely not be okay. Sure you're not spending too much time editing pt 5? ;)

[Brief CL break. Heart.]

Okay, the perfection of each word and phrase, that would drive me bonkers. Plus, that shuts down the possibilities for what can come after, although admittedly I say that as someone who doesn't write from an overly detailed outline. Like, I know where I want to start, and I have an idea of a few places I want to hit along the way, and sooner or later the end occurs to me... the polishing of words and phrases usually shows up while my subconscious is busy working on the story, and I can't just stop and sit there while it does its thing. Also, sometimes finding the right words shows me a tone or direction I didn't realize until I thought about why they were "right."

Eh, otoh I don't often write long. Maddening. :P

[ibythetide.livejournal.com]

There was a time when I was an avid reader and could discern many a writer by their style. Popslash, baby, a good time was certainly had by all. I notice pacing and phrasing more and more in writing. I could even go as far as saying those to things are major "tone" setters that help me identify writers.

I'm still struggling with the next part so I reserve the right to have a clarifying comment once I think about the question some more. Right now, after admitting I'm personally uncomfortable with my own style, I would say that having a recognizable style is not as important to me as having/executing an idea. I've read plenty of excellent prose that had no substance to it.

Of course, having both would be best.

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm still struggling with the next part so I reserve the right to have a clarifying comment once I think about the question some more.

Certainly! I'm still struggling with it myself, which is why I'm asking everyone else their thoughts. :-) Once you've got it worked out, do share!


Right now, after admitting I'm personally uncomfortable with my own style, I would say that having a recognizable style is not as important to me as having/executing an idea. I've read plenty of excellent prose that had no substance to it.

Of course, having both would be best.

Yes! That leads to a future question I had planned.

After reading a ton of basically "faceless" stories, I'd like to think that my own stuff would be recognizable as mine. Having both *would* be best, the ability to successfully execute an idea - with substance! - that someone would point to and say, "Wow, X must have written that!"