Darryl Dawson

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I’ve been working in television since 1994, slaving away as a video editor, stumbling around as a video photographer, or pulling off small miracles as a satellite coordinator in Reno, Phoenix, Albuquerque, and Phoenix again. There are many disadvantages to this career that I will discuss at another, more appropriate time. But there is an upside: occasionally, when you have something to report, announce, complain about or sell, you get to be on TV without asking. This was the case as my cohorts at KPHO CBS5, desperate to fill time on a slow holiday morning, invited me onto the set for an interview about The Crawlspace.

The Crawlspace

It was weird sitting on the desk of the fancy, HD-ready set normally reserved for the on-air staff, but not altogether foreign. Chris and Marya were fantastic, keeping the segment lively while allowing me to be myself and make my points. I did very little preparation for the interview…why micro-manage yourself? I thought…and it was much smoother than I could have asked for.

With huge thanks to everyone involved, here now is the segment as seen live on KPHO in Phoenix, Arizona at about three minutes after 5 a.m.

Part of your style means doing it the way that feels good to you.

That may sound simplistic—but sometimes the simple lessons are the ones we need to keep relearning in life.

If you have total acceptance for your own style, then you probably don’t need this part of the lesson. But if you’re still wondering what your own writing style is, consider this: it might be right there (write there!) under your nose in black and white.

My own personal blogging style was right there in front of me, but I was curiously ashamed of it. As I lamented in a November 2008 post (As Bloggers Go, I’m a Loser Material), the Help tips at blogger.com intimidated me with this high-octane advice:

“Keep your posts and paragraphs short. Strive for succinct posts that pump pertinent new information into the blogosphere and move on. Keep it short and sweet so visitors can pop in, read up, and click on.”

But when it comes to blogging, I’m not that kind of high octane. That’s just not me.

I thought I needed to change to conform to the trends. But ya know what? I’m only a loser as a blogger if I fail to be true to my own style.

Style = The School of Learning

Recognizing your own personal style is not about stagnation. It’s not about being formulaic or resting on your laurels. As writers, we should always be seeking to learn more about our craft. The school of learning is never closed! Successful writers know this.

As creative types, we should always be pouncing on opportunities to revel in producing our next work of art—however small or large that might be.

Recognizing your own personal style is about realizing you already know how to express your creativity in your own unique way.

Gaining more experience by practicing your craft (write, write, write), or learning the how-to’s (by attending workshops or using books written by the experts) is simply the vehicle.

YOU are the driver. And, deep down inside, you know what you came here to do. The trick is to be able to recognize it.

OK, here’s the practical part. Open one of your writing notebooks—or that “My Writing” folder on your computer—and take a trip down memory lane. Read a selection of your writing, both recent and older.

As you read, pay attention to any patterns you might notice. Especially be on the lookout for things you’re uncertain or ashamed of that may actually be part of your own unique style.

Remember, style’s not just how you say it. Style may mean knowing that poetry is your thing, not short stories. Or that young adult novels are your true love, not the more commercial romance you’ve been working on. Or that blogging leaves you cold.

Or that blogging excites you so much, you should investigate ways to monetize your blog and get more traffic!

Style’s All About Doing

It’s also about more than just figuring out which genre(s) you feel most comfortable in. It’s about the DOING part of it, too. That’s where your platform comes in.

For instance, do you have a driving need to get your message out NOW? Perhaps online articles are the way to go for you . . . rather than the much longer process of having a book published (and one may lead to another, if you remain open to the possibilities).

Or you might have the makings of a renegade non-fiction author who self-publishes and then gets her book out to the people in the setting of workshops.

(Take it from me, it can be done—even if you’re very shy.)

Or, you may just want to write for your own pleasure, or to leave a legacy for your grandkids.

Look at your writing with the eyes of acceptance. What feels the most right for you? And, just as importantly, what doesn’t feel right for you?

P.S. Don’t wait for the world to believe in you. Believe in yourself first. It’s a faster, more efficient way of doing it!

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RELATED POSTS:

Write There (Part I): Realizing Your Own Writing Style

Write There (Part II): Changing Gears as a Writer