by D.Chazan

Created on: July 15, 2009

No one wants to be a copycat.

As writers, we want our work to be unique and individual. We want our writing to be recognized as something extraordinary as well as identifiable to us as the authors. In order to achieve this, we need to develop a style of writing that will reflect our personalities. This may seem like a difficult thing to do, but in truth, there are many clues to finding that style, if you just know how to look for them. Once you've identified these key elements, you'll have a good basis for developing your own writing style. The following suggestions regarding the fundamentals in writing style should help get you on that road.

Tone: One way to discover the element of tone in your writing style is to pay close attention to the types of writers that you personally enjoy reading. To begin with, ask yourself what is the tone of those articles that you prefer to read? Are they more seriously composed, or do they have a bit of humor in them, or are they a mixture of the two? Whichever you prefer, it will already give you a clue to help you begin to develop your own writing style in regards to the tone you'll use in your own writing.

Language: Once you've chosen the tone of your writing, you might want to look at your use of language. Some writers like to sound intellictual, using big sophisticated words. Others like to sound friendlier, using simple language they know everyone will understand. To find out which is best suited to your own writing style, try paying attention to how you speak with people. Of course, we don't talk to people of authority using the same language we use with our buddies, but some things remain the same no matter what. For instance, some people like making puns and plays on words when speaking to their friends. These same people may also find that when they speak to their boss, they insert lots of technical words and terms. Someone like that will find that a more sophisticated use of language suits their writing as well.

Precision: While looking into your speaking habits, you may also discover if you are better suited to detailed or more concise writing. Ask yourself if, while telling someone a story, you like to impart all the minute details of an event or not. If you do, you'll probably be a detailed writer as well. If not, it is more likely that you'll be a more precise writer - one who gets their point across quickly and efficiently.

Listening: When we write, we often hear our own voice in our heads. One of the most

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