reading about writing, thinking about art

[elisem]

 So, just a few minutes ago in one place or another, I was reading what someone had to say about style. In the course of exploring a particular writer's habits and style, they said that they themselves weren't sure they knew what style was.

A long time ago, a sentence came into my possession that has been both comforting and humbling by degrees. It is this: "Style is what you can't help doing."

The comforting part is that if you can't help having style, or doing style, or whatever sort of verbing of style is accurate for you and your work, then you might as well stop any worrying about style and get on with the work. Saves a tremendous amount of time, really.

Thoughts?

Comments

Brilliant!

[jesse_the_k]

Sums it up as well as soothing the annoying inner weasel.

(Of course there are the talented writers who can pastiche their way into another's style.)

[lydamorehouse]

I'm not sure what is meant exactly by style when it applies to writing, because what I usually call the stuff you can't help doing as "voice." I mean, maybe that's not exactly accurate because authors can (and do!) shift their narrative voices, depending on the character in the book. But, when I say things like, "I can read anything by [x author], I really like their voice," I am probably actually referring to style.

Anyway, yes. Style is absolutely something you can't really DO. It's something you just have. As you say, just go on with the work, you are probably already writing it in what ever it is is your style.