As February starts (or Chapter 2, as I’ve started calling it), I wanted to take some time to talk about the different ways I write.
That might sound silly, but it’s true. I have at least 4 distinct writing styles.
Academic
This is my writing when I’m doing school work, writing papers, talking about material in a way that is critical and analytical. My brain does this really well, usually. It’s an important part of my world, but it’s not creative and serves a different purpose than the rest of my writing.
Creative Writing
This is my novel writing. My short stories. This writing has all kinds of tones and words, depending on the person speaking. I often have to go back and rewrite things several times to get the character’s voice correct. This can be a challenge because I tend to think so visually. It can be hard to translate what I see in my head to paper. But I enjoy it. Creating a new world, looking through the eyes of another person is so interesting.
Journaling
This is writing for me. Often, things are spelled wrong, and I don’t worry about my tone. I’m trying to get out thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Emotions too. This isn’t writing I share with anyone. Sometimes it morphs into other types of writing. I’ve free journaled ideas that turned into stories. But the original writing? That’s all for me. It can be wonderful for moments of writer’s block – just put something on the paper. Doesn’t matter what. And since no one else sees it, it’s all ok!
Writing for Teaching
I have a separate voice I use for teaching. That might sound strange, but to me it’s a different kind of communication. I teach students and patients. They each have their own language. I adjust words to match the vocabulary of the person I’m teaching. I push my students, use big words, and introduce new vocabulary to them. Patients often need things brought down and simplified. I often wonder if these are actually two different kinds of writing, but I’m drawing off the same skills for each one, so I consider it the same thing.
So what about you? How many different kinds of writing do you have? Do you journal?
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