Do U Ever Contrast And Compare?

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

If you contrasted and compared your writing to other writers, living or dead, whom do you match?

I read some old Dashiell Hammett lately, and see that I match his style in the early 1920s, long before THE MALTESE FALCON.

 

[RoyceConnors]

In all honesty, I very rarely read anything, so I couldn't really say I can compare myself to anyone in one way or another.
None of my readers have mentioned that I write like anyone's style, so I find myself thinking I have my own unique style of writing. If a reader tells me I read like another author, I'll check it out and see the comparison between us.

 

[StrangeLife]

I've always found my writing style reminiscent of The Bible. So I frequently compare myself to God...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I read a lot, and often discover that my latest nifty idea was done long ago. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

 

[sr71plt]

I've tried to write in the vein of a couple of authors (Durrell, Graham Greene, LeCarre), but I don't do any deep comparison study. I just try to capture a mood I get from their writing (and in Durrell's case, a few plotting techniques).

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I've tried to write in the vein of a couple of authors (Durrell, Graham Greene, LeCarre), but I don't do any deep comparison study. I just try to capture a mood I get from their writing (and in Durrell's case, a few plotting techniques).

Sure. I agree. If we're preordained for one thing or another, birds of a feather will flock together.

 

[walkerlong]

Those type of comparisons are too hard on my fragile ego.

 

[TamLin01]

Well, comparison isn't really a great idea, because who ever holds up to direct comparison with their literary heroes?

But yes, I certainly have noted writers in mind when I work, people I'd like to write like if only I could apply myself enough: Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, Mike Mignola, Angela Carter, HP Lovecraft, Bill Gaines, Shirley Jackson, etc.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I just learned a new word, DRECK.

 

[lovecraft68]

I write like me.

Comparison's are a waste of time and emulating is defeating your natural creativity.

I write to the tune of my drumming muse.

Sort of like Azatoth for all you HPL geeks.

 

[StrangeLife]

I just learned a new word, DRECK.

You watched an orthodox jew stub his toe?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You watched an orthodox jew stub his toe?

What else would he stub?

 

[StrangeLife]

What else would he stub?

His schizzle...

 

[lovecraft68]

His schizzle...

How did Snoop Dogg get into this?

 

[Acktion]

His schizzle...

Don't you mean his schmeckle, you schlub?

And back to the original question, I read quite a bit by most standards. I can't say as I've ever thought about whether I write like anyone else though. My first thought on the topic was "nah, they are a published author/singer/artist/etc, I'm just a hack doing what I like".

 

[SamScribble]

I think that it can be difficult not to pick up style hints from writers you enjoy. People have, from time to time, 'accused' me of borrowing from Lawrence Durrell, Graham Greene, John Le Carre, JP Donleavy, and Kurt Vonnegut. Mind you, they're not bad guys to borrow from.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

So I submitted 3 writing samples to I WRITE LIKE, and Stephen King is their answer. I hope its SK of the 70s, not lately.

 

[ishtat]

I write like me.

Comparison's are a waste of time and emulating is defeating your natural creativity.

William Shakespeare pinched all his plot ideas from older sources - and if you attempted an emulation of him, I suspect that would indeed, stretch your natural creativity.

 

[robertreams]

I like to compare myself to Ray Bradbury, (don't I wish) But I have to be careful not to read more than one book in a row by the same author or I will begin to imitate their style. As to one of the comments. How in hell could anyone be a writer and not read? I'll take that even further: how could anyone be alive and not read? I am currently reading eight books at the same time. One or two I am reading only bits of at a time because I don't want to finish them. My favorite right now is Carl Sandburg's story of the civil war, gleaned from his three books on Lincoln. Man I wish my history teachers had had me read that instead of text books. What a wonderful writer he is!