Hi fellow readers, writers, and friends!
The first thing I had to figure out when I started writing my manuscript was:
What's my writing style?
And honestly? Before I started writing, I couldn't have cared less about writing style. I never opened a book and thought, "YES, this is first-person limited with a conversational tone!" I just... read. Like a normal human.
But here's the thing: when you're creating a story, you've got OPTIONS. Like, a lot of them. And they all boil down to one question:
How can I write this story so it's entertaining to me AND my readers?
Because let's be real—I'm writing a story I want to read.
So I did what any overwhelmed newbie does: I researched. And wow, did I learn a lot.
Perspective: Will it be first-person (I, me, us) or third-person (he, she, they)? Are we camping out in the protagonist's head the whole time, or are we hopping between different characters' perspectives? Or maybe it's omniscient—where some god-like narrator knows everything and everyone's business?
Tense: Past, present, or future? Is the reader hearing an old story that already happened, or are they living every moment alongside the protagonist in real-time?
Tone: This one's like flipping through radio stations. Country, rock, R&B, oldies, rap—stories have just as many flavors. Narrative (straightforward storytelling), descriptive (rich, vivid imagery), minimalist (clean and direct), complex (you have to read the sentence three times to get it), evocative (lush and poetic), humorous... you get the idea. SO many options.
Armed with this knowledge, I decided to crack open my favorite books and actually analyze them. You know, like a proper writer person.
Here's what I found:
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Perspective: Third-person limited (we're only in Harry's head)
Tone: Simple, humorous, adventurous, descriptive (hello, believable magical world)
Tense: Past
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Perspective: First-person (locked in Bella's head)
Tone: Simple, descriptive, diary-like, moody
Tense: Past
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Perspective: Third-person limited (bouncing between Kell and Lila, one at a time)
Tone: Sharp, concise, quick-moving, character-driven action
Tense: Past
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Perspective: Third-person limited (jumping between Celaena, Dorian, and Chaol)
Tone: Melodramatic, action-oriented
Tense: Past
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Perspective: First-person (all Darrow, all the time)
Tone: Intense, action-driven, short and punchy
Tense: Present
A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark
Perspective: First-person (alternating between Prisca and Lorian)
Tone: Fast-paced, action-oriented, tension-filled
Tense: Past
After dissecting all these books I loved, I noticed a pattern. Turns out, I have a TYPE.
So what's MY writing style? Glad you asked.
Perspective: Third-person limited (mainly hanging out in my protagonist's head, but hopping into other characters' minds to follow several converging plot lines)
Tone: Simple, conversational, fast-paced, action-oriented, descriptive
Tense: Present (it just felt more immediate and urgent—like you're experiencing everything WITH the characters in real-time)
Here's my tip: Write the first five chapters in your chosen style. Then go back and read them OUT LOUD. Does it flow the way you want? Sound the way you imagined? If it feels right, it IS right.
There are a million ways to write a story, and finding my style was crucial. Now the tricky part? Making sure every single chapter stays true to it.
Stay creative, stay obsessed, and find your jam.
Morgan
Debut author faking it till I make it ☕📚✨
Let's chat: What writing style did you land on? I want to hear your story in the comments!
