So, What If You Swap Between Different Writing Styles?
You may create the best work you never knew you could……
Roz Warren is a humour writer.
Felicia C. Sullivan and Linda Caroll are essayists.
And Joanie Adams writes (mostly) poetry that mirrors the intricate elegance of Shakespearean literature.
I’d recognize their style without seeing their name in the top left corner of their posts.
They’re distinguishable, unmistakably unique, delivering funny and/or beautiful prose without fail.
As a reader, I know what I’m in for before even clicking on their title.
And then… there is me…
I’ve recently looked through my posts. They look colourful, to say the least.
A mixed bag of genres and topics from writing to ageing, with some parenting humour thrown in there.
Like a small town shop that sells everything, from bread and butter to birthday cards to shovel.
It’s safe to say that I’m a writer “without a niche” leaning more toward personal stories.
And you know what? I’ll own it.
It feels like having an ADHD mind that perpetually fidgets. It jumps from one thing to the other without a care.
But here’s the thing.
Some writers have an already “well-tested” voice. A style that comes naturally to them that feels like home. And that’s ok.
However, some of us enjoy experimenting and trying out new methods we’ve never explored before.
First, it feels alien, uncomfortable…way out there.
Am I doing it right? Does this even work? Can I pull this off?
And before you know it, you’ve created something completely new. You’ve birthed a piece that beats the ones you’d written before.
Now look at you! You’re pleasantly surprised by what’s just happened.
You can’t write an essay in the same tone as you’d write a how-to post. Equally, if you’re in a good mood and up for a laugh, writing about grief will be the last subject on your mind.
Rebecca F. Kuang the author of “Yellowface” is an incredibly versatile writer. And if you check out her books, you’ll understand why.
“Yellowface” is set in today’s modern world, while “Poppy War” is a coming-of-age military fantasy. Then there’s “Babel”, a dark academia/historical fiction/fantasy, and “Katabasis”, which the author described in an interview as “ nonsense literature”.
An intriguing category, let’s go with that.
She’s not the only one.
Neil Gaiman and J.K. Rowling have both written books, which are different in genre and style.
So, what does that tell us?
You don’t have to be scared to shake things up and create something that’s out of your comfort zone.
On the contrary. Experimenting is learning. And learning is evolving.
Using different voices and elements will help you figure out which style/styles resonate with you the most. It’ll refresh your writing and allow you to improve.
But what if I confuse the readers? — I hear you say.
Just think about Miss Kuang. She’s a success.
