Considering Style

While speaking to another writer last week, the subject of writing style came up. He feels that you really need to be trained by way of a fine arts degree. And I feel that style is something that can't be taught. And in fact, there are just some styles of writing some writers can't do because it's a way of thinking.

Most other creative arts understand the difference in styles. Classical opera isn't the same as rock opera. Ballet is different than tap dancing. And performance art usually doesn't get exhibited on a canvas. But these are all accepted as part of the creative arts.

During my years in community theatre I learned that no amount of training will turn me into a soprano. I have an alto belt voice and that's that. I could perfect that style, or try and stretch within my range limitations, but I could never have done Christine in "Phantom of the Opera." I could learn to sing it badly, but never well.

And as for writing, no amount of training will turn me into a short story writer because I think in terms of sagas and series. And no class could suddenly turn me into Proust. My mind just doesn't work that way. I have a few friends who do have that gift. And I've noticed that while they're looking for the perfect word, I'm off wondering where a race of shapeshifters might have developed from. It's just different ways of thinking.

I learned a lot from my days writing fanfiction. I saw that my simplistic writing style made the long stories I preferred easier to read. And my love of detail and foreshadowing made my stories interesting to read more than once. Granted, my work will never be considered literary. But I think the world handle more than one style of writing or storytelling.