D.W. Part 4 - Writing in Different Styles (Not Genres!)

I've been playing around much with the words "genres" and "styles" as though they are the same things, but now I think myself candidly incorrect. Because right now, they mean different things to me - completely.

What are "genres"?

Genres are words that you use to describe a book, pretty much. For example, say there was a dark cover with a ghost looming in the darkness on a book you were reading currently. Then I'm sure you'd describe it as "dark-fantasy," or else something of that sort. I used to think of genres as adjectives for books and movies.

What are "styles"?

Styles, to me, is how somebody writes a book. Unlike genres, in my opinion, it depends on the actual author and their own "writing-style". And by that I do not mean that perhaps they write in the genre "horror" all the time. Instead, it is how the person writes, not what the person writes in. For an instance, "A Ghost in my Suitcase" I described to be written very loosely; the descriptions are meaningless to me, for there's almost none, and the characters don't draw you in very much.

So now, if somebody has the dreadful "Writer's Block", then how about writing in different styles? If you just change genres, I'm sure it'll work too, but changing styles is like a new world to me, too. Say you always write in detailed style, with complicated characters such as Severus Snape, who in the end turn out to be not who we thought they'd be. Now sit down, and write the exact same story - or a completely different story! - only, in your simplified style, or the other way around.

It is good for artists to have different styles of drawing, and currently I am exercising with "anime". But for writers it's good, too! I mean, I have my full style, and my simplified style!

I hope this helped!

Sandra