Reading to learn writing styles?

[Dylan]

Fair point, feedback can be helpful but also overwhelming. For creativity, I just go with whatever sparks inspiration, even if it’s random. Sometimes less fixing, more creating is the way to go.

 

[Charles T. Forests]

Fair point, feedback can be helpful but also overwhelming. For creativity, I just go with whatever sparks inspiration, even if it’s random. Sometimes less fixing, more creating is the way to go.

Yeah i agree but I want to get as much experimenting at beginning before I start so I like asking for best advice

 

[Veydris]

I've been told that I have a certain style to myself that is quite distinct, and that I should practice writing in different styles that I can observe from different writers. But it's not something that I have noticed that I have... learned from various books and the like that I've read. Or at least, none that I can tell that have made a distinct difference in how I write. And even trying to write in a different style, with intent, does not work for me as I slip into my own rather quickly.

 

[skip.knox]

I honestly cannot figure out how I might learn a writing style by reading. Or, indeed, by any other means. My own process of writing is such a struggle, such a muddle, the possibility of actually learning something is remote.

I can state this with confidence, having written four, almost five, novels to date, along with one novelette and four short stories. Oh wait; five short stories, but only four of them have been published. And every one of them was a muddle and did not benefit one whit from reading other books or indeed from my having written other works to completion. It's a dive in the dark, every damned time.

I have, however, read a number of books that I *wish* I could have learned from, but I have proved myself a piss-poor pupil.

 

[Fidel]

I read for enjoyment. But the more I have been writing, the more I have been noticing certain techniques. For example, I'm reading Foreigner right now. There's a passage where she describes a ride into the countryside and she describes smells, sights, and sounds, each in a separate set of paragraphs. She works in the MC's reaction to these, puzzling over them and reacting to them, so that we also learn something about the alien civilization along with the setting itself. I noticed it because I thought it a good way to approach the challenge of including multiple senses in a descriptive passage.

Had she merely have done the sensory impressions, it would have been tedious. But she uses it as a way to expand on the MC and on the world itself. I noticed this. Maybe I'll use it, maybe not, and maybe it will inform my writing in some subconscious way. But as a way to "learn"?

Nah.

That’s the sneaky magic of reading as a writer, you start noticing the craft behind the enjoyment. Cherryh’s technique of blending sensory details with character reactions and worldbuilding is such a smooth way to keep description engaging. Even if you don’t consciously use it, it’ll probably seep into your writing naturally. Learning without trying win-win!

 

[skip.knox]

That’s the sneaky magic of reading as a writer, you start noticing the craft behind the enjoyment. Cherryh’s technique of blending sensory details with character reactions and worldbuilding is such a smooth way to keep description engaging. Even if you don’t consciously use it, it’ll probably seep into your writing naturally. Learning without trying win-win!

One can only hope (I'm really enjoying her writing, though she does tend to hit the same nail a bit too long sometimes. What I do notice is that I'm comparing her handling of certain things with how it gets handled on, say, a TV show or a movie. Witnessing elegance tends to highlight inelegance elsewhere.

 

[lorenaroys]

I read for enjoyment. But the more I have been writing, the more I have been noticing certain techniques. For example, I'm reading Foreigner right now. There's a passage where she describes a ride into the countryside and she describes smells, sights, and sounds, each in a separate set of paragraphs. She works in the MC's reaction to these, puzzling over them and reacting to them, so that we also learn something about the alien civilization along with the setting itself. I noticed it because I thought it a good way to approach the challenge of including multiple senses in a descriptive passage.

Had she merely have done the sensory impressions, it would have been tedious. But she uses it as a way to expand on the MC and on the world itself. I noticed this. Maybe I'll use it, maybe not, and maybe it will inform my writing in some subconscious way. But as a way to "learn"?

Nah.


However, when it comes to academic writing, the situation is different. Such "style" has requirements and is totally different from other writing styles. So, in this case, I try to read a lot of research, articles, and so on to learn how to write in a better style and improve the quality of current writing. For me, as for the students, it's impact. From time to time, when I have some difficulties, I use the help of https://customwriting.com/, and it's the best idea not to miss the deadlines. But I work on my skills, and I know they will be better. And for now, it's good to know that using help is possible.

The same - I read because it's what I like to do. But I think that it's for sure affecting your writing, and you may not realize it for some time.
I'm not trying to learn some new styles; I'm still getting better in my current style, but for the future, I already have some styles I'd like to try, which I found out about from other authors, of course.