Someone recently asked how he could write like me; not the first time that question has come up. I soon realized that the response I gave might make for a good article, so here we are and away we go.

I leaned to write by learning how to read and letting all my years of reading perculate through my brain before I started to write. I learned that, if you want to sound a little like something, for instance, Shakesperian, then do NOT be afraid to do so. I suspect a number of writers hold back from what they could do simply because they’re afraid to try and be “something they’re not”, or that people might acuse them of faking it or copying someone. I am not a poet but I use certain poetic-styled rhythms in my writing; so read some poetry to get the feel for it.

Also read a lot of some of the old classic authors (Heinlien, Asimov, Clarke, and many more) then pick and choose what of their styles that you feel is fit for yourself (or even read a couple of my own books. ). I am self-taught, as that might be apparent at this point, and yet I had a hundred different teachers in the form of the books I’d read from my grammar school days well into adulthood.

Also remember that sometimes you don’t have to alter all that much to vastly improve a description, scene, or narrative (I’ve been told I have a rather subtle touch).

Read, develop your own style, and do not be afraid to be bold or to break a few rules.