WRITING

To Develop a Unique Writing Style, Break Loose From the Pack and Follow Your Own Heart

The truth and consequences of the writing game

“Until you know who you are you can’t write.” — Salman Rushdie

The game of writing success takes many shapes and forms

And the guidelines aren’t always clear or easy to interpret. That’s when doubt, frustration, and anxiety come into play — rearing their confusing, unwelcome heads front-and-center. Because while most of us are typically good sports and play well with others, we don’t always have a clear picture of the rules.

This concept is encountered all too often in our writing efforts

Seems like every day, I discover something new, different, unusual, unheard of, or hypothesized to be taken into consideration. All good stuff, and important to factor into the ever-changing equation.

But sometimes I’m left with dizzying stress — the kind that can take me way off track. So to avoid losing any more handfuls of hair, I’m adopting a new strategy to make things a little easier to figure out and digest.

What’s this new, scathingly brilliant idea?

I call it The Writing Game. By viewing my progress as steps along a virtual game board, I’m able to visualize a sequence to success — a literal blueprint — that has become helpful in working through a particularly complex story idea to completion.

You may want to give it a try to determine if this process can help sort through the questions, options, and holes in your own work. But before you pick out a game piece and roll the dice, here are a few thoughts to consider on your writing journey.

Accompanying the desire to write is the necessity to read, learn, listen, question, or even be entertained

As writers, we have an instinctual need to hunt and gather — accrue details and information — before we vet and polish our words to satisfaction. From this process, we usually discover the “rules of the game” are eclectic indeed. And that’s the pearl in the oyster — the underlying truth of most creatives who understand there are no boundaries to a wandering mind with a story to tell.

So what do we do about all those instructions out there spouting authenticity and purpose in an attempt to herd us all together in a symbiotic mass of conformity? Are they really necessary and, if so, why do so many of us break loose from the pack and howl at our own moon?

Sometimes the answers aren’t always easy to recognize — until you start playing

And that’s when we discover the reality that writers offer varying degrees of confidence, skill, and opinion — layered between unexpected insights and perspective. And this can create even more questions — with no clear answers. How do we figure out what’s real or imagined? And how can they all be right?

Take comfort in knowing you’re not alone

There’s plenty of company when it comes to working through this dilemma. Because we’re constantly asking ourselves not only why such diversity exists in a profession that seems to have some level of structure, but what we can do to harvest all the great fodder out there and find useful ways to integrate the information into our own personal writing game.

Frankly, I’m good with knowing there are no limits to our creativity

Certainly, we need to be cognizant of a few “rules” that have the potential to turn our work into winning pieces — the kind that stand out and get noticed. At the same time, there will be some readers who don’t — or can’t — recognize our message.

The comfort comes in understanding that capturing the interest of those you’re trying to reach is worth the truth or consequences of the game. Because those readers you touch with your writing will be grateful you had the courage to speak your mind — in a way that’s just right for them.

Some helpful tips for staying in the game

Here are a few thoughts that may offer a little insight and help you design the best strategy for success — before you lay out the board and blow on the dice for good luck.

• Most games consist of players and observers. Fortunately, in the writing game, you can be in or out — or both. Reading other writers’ work will give you an idea of how they interpreted the rules, and the direction they chose in creating their own stories. While this may be helpful, be mindful not to be a copycat. Believing you can achieve success by simply mirroring the structure, approach, and opinions of others could result in a red flag — and a time-out.
• Learn the basic rules. Punctuation, grammar, and tense come to mind. Granted, there are many different styles of writing — fiction, non-fiction, prose, op-ed, poetry, haiku, free-form, for example. However, the majority of readers need a level of consistency when they’re listening to the voice in their head. By providing a baseline of understanding, readers will be able to interpret your work in a way that makes sense to them.

The most important aspect to keep in mind is to enjoy the process

Writing is an art, craft, hobby, profession, past-time, passion, and undeniable calling. Be yourself, be genuine and authentic, and commit to becoming the best player in your personal game. Lay out your success strategy, choose a direction, and go for it!

Remember to have fun and let out a howl from time-to-time

Expressing yourself in words and actions teaches us the importance of being free in thought and behavior. And having the courage to tell it like it is — even if our message takes on the form of a wild, verbal call — reminds us to be authentic by writing our truth, warts and all. Because without a few laughs and grins along the way, we may as well close up our computers and go take a nap.

“A writer can do nothing for men more necessary, satisfying, than just simply to reveal to them the infinite possibilities of their own souls.” — Walt Whitman

© 2021 Jill Reid. All Rights Reserved.

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Jill Reid is the author of Please God, Make Me A Writer and the Real Life Series, including Real Life and Discover Your Personal Truth. Her books and articles explore life, happiness, relationships, health, and personal success strategies.