Baby You've Got Style!

When an editor talks about your style she is not referring to your lovely Levis or your patent leather pumps.

She is talking about how you say something rather than what you are saying in your writing. Content isn't the immediate concern, as your editor discusses style. She is focussing on the way your express your ideas and then present them on paper. Your style is your unique fingerprint.

Speaking of style, one of my first magazine assignments was to interview the reigning Miss Canada. My second one was to interview a ritzy-glitzy fashion designer. This was all interesting work and the pay was rather tempting, but the intimidation factor was daunting and really, when I stopped to think about it, I had nothing decent to wear and I realized interviewing big people with big egos was not my thing anyway. As a result, my style seemed boring and too limited for my scatterbrained ADD mind.

Soon I found myself writing a humour column for a local newspaper then articles for children's magazines, Sunday school take home papers and Christian educational periodicals. I'd found my niche and my style became more clear as I continued in my craft.

A writer's style doesn't really appear overnight. The more you write, the clearer it becomes. I also think that when you are passionate about something, your style emerges. But don't despair, it really does take time and practice to develop your own way of putting your thoughts into words. Keep writing!