Writing Style: A Writer’s Fingerprint

In the same way, a brushstroke is unique to an artist, so it’s a writer’s writing style. If you love books as much as I do, you’ve probably noticed that each book has its own personality. I am not talking about grammar and syntax (that applies to all books). I’m talking about how the words flow on the page; some are more lyrical than others. Some are simple yet captivating. A writing style is the fingerprint of each author. Although there might be some similarities, there won’t be two identical ones (unless it was plagiarized, and that’s another subject).

According to Literary Terms, “In literature, style is the way in which an author writes and/or tells a story. It’s what sets one author apart from another and creates the “voice” that audiences hear when they read.”

Let’s take a few examples from twentieth-century writers. Many authors, professors, and pundits have said that Hemingway’s writing style was concise, direct, and realistic. His simplicity and directness were a breath of fresh air. Unlike other authors, he steered clear of verbosity and embellishment.

Another example of minimalism is Raymond Carver. He didn’t pepper the story with unnecessary details to describe his characters or setting.

John Steinbeck was careful in how he used his words, especially in dialogues. Some say that although he was straightforward, he was also descriptive. An interesting combination, I would say. Also, because he was curious about the human psyche, his style tended to be realistic. 

George Orwell’s style, like Steinbeck’s, is effortless and rather journalistic. Like Carver, one of his writing traits was avoiding unnecessary imagery or ornate descriptions. Instead, he narrated so precisely, making each word weight while describing his characters and settings without the verboseness.

Do you have a unique writing style? Do you emulate your favorite author(s)?