E.B. White claims, in his essay “An Approach to Style,” that
“there is no satisfactory explanation of style.” Darn! Not the answer I was looking
for. In fact, he adds that it 's somewhat of a mystery, but that it has
something to do with the way a writer’s words sound on paper. Why some words
sound better than others when put together in a certain way, however, is
essentially unknown.
Yet there is something that distinguishes Stephen King’s
work from another horror writer, for example, or Hemmingway from Faulkner, Fitzgerald
from Salinger. It’s something we can all see and hear in their writing, but we can’t
quite put our finger on what that something is or even agree on what it might
be. I say it’s the writer’s style, and it’s the same for singers, dancers,
musicians, sculptors, painters, or any type of artist.
So, this is the million-dollar question. Does the writer
have any control over their style?
Of course, a writer can take classes to improve their writing
skills just as actors, painters, singers, or other artists can take lessons to
improve their craft, but does that affect their style? Despite his claim about the elusiveness of style,
E.B. White does have a suggestion on how a writer might find their own style. He
says that writers should place themselves in the background and write in a way
that comes naturally. In other words, trying to copy, force, or fake a style
won’t work. In fact, he believes it will hinder the process. He also
cautions the beginning writer to stay away from “. . . all devices that are
popularly believed to indicate style – all mannerisms, tricks, adornments.” Interestingly,
he says the path “to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness,
sincerity.”
So, if you’ve been searching for or trying to create your
own style (or wondering if you even have one), try White’s advice and see what happens.
Let me know if you find this blog helpful or interesting, and I’ll see you
next time with Part IV of “The Art of Storytelling.”
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