Copying a writer's style.?

Question

I can read the first few lines of a story and begin my own story in that same mannner, not copying the words but having the same beat as what is written. This helps motivate me to write. For instance, I might read somehting written by any famous author and sustitute it with my own word and the beat of the writing in the same. Does anyone know what this is called? Thanks

Answer 1

Anybody who says it's plagiarism or says you cannot avoid it doesn't know what they say.

You will pick up various traits from the authors you read, it doesn't mean you're going to copy them 100% but there are certain things that you will pick up on. If you read every book by every author in the last 300 years you would notice that even famous authors do it too, it's called being influenced.

If you read something of mine and you knew me, you would immediately recognize it as being something I wrote, but then if you analyzed deeper you would be able to draw comparison to Tolkien, Conan Doyle, and King, my three biggest influences.

Answer 2

I don't think this is a particularly good technique for your own writing; very often, editors who are considering your work for publication will think, "Oh, he/she's trying to sound like so-and-so." That'll pretty much get you rejected out of hand.

However, it's also worth noting that entire genres are often homages written in the style of a "founder." For instance, consider cyberpunk. Every cyberpunk novel out there reads like William Gibson's establishing style, no matter who actually wrote the novel in question. This is because that style defines cyberpunk to a great extent, and the fans of that genre expect that style.

Answer 3

Good judgment, LOL. Read a story in a magazine. Use the style, but write on your own subject, and submit it.

When you're writing for a magazine, you have an audience of one: the submissions reviewer. To get published in the magazine, you have to write what he buys. Reading the magazine is an excellent way to get ideas for what he likes.

I got a stack of rejections before I figured that out!

Answer 4

No it isn't plagiarism. It's called copying a writer's style or using another writer's voice. I seriously teach writers not to do it. What ends up happening is you sound like what you think an "auh-thor" sounds like. You aren't using your own voice. You should always try to write in your own voice. When I see something written by something I feel is copying another author's style and trying to sound like an "auh-tor" I ask them to sit down and tell me the story aloud. They are often shocked at how different it sounds when they tell it in their own, natural voice. What you are doing is artificial sounding and comes out phony and uninteresting. Your own voice is often a zillion times more interesting. Pax- C

Answer 5

plagarism

Answer 6

plagiarizer!