“People ask me where I got my singing style. I didn’t copy my style from anybody.” –Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley’s iconic blusey country voice is still famous today, years after he came on the music scene in Memphis, TN. This quote articulates simply what personal style should be—personal and original. Though Elvis Presley has major influences and music icons such as the gospel group The Statesmen Quartet, his personal singing style is what set him apart and made him a legend.

I strongly believe that writing style in a creative setting is shaped by personal experiences, literature the author has read in the past, what the author has read in the past, and what the author has been taught is good style. But all these experiences are the author’s own, and it creates a style of writing that is personal to that author. A writer may draw inspiration from other writers and styles, but like Presley says about his singing style—a writer doesn’t copy his/her style from anybody.

This quote reminds me to embrace my own style—and, for this semester, inspires me to develop my own style while striving for the best communication possible. The Elements of Style add to Elvis’ comment when they say to “study the masters of literature” after learning the rules of rhetoric. The rules of rhetoric are extremely important, and play a major role in how successful a writer is at communicating with his/her audience. But Elvis’ philosophy is to make sure your style is set apart—even if it is influenced by other styles.

I think this thought could inspire writers to focus too much on making their work original and ignore the rules of writing in their belief that their own style is a natural gift. What is the best practice in developing a personal style? After spending time learning the rules of effective writing and studying the literary greats to find the author that possesses a style from whom the author would like to draw inspiration, what is the next step? Practice, would be my assumption, and a real effort to develop your writing by spending time every day doing it. And once that style is finally starting take place and set itself apart, you can revel in the victory that you didn’t copy your style from anybody because you worked to make it your own.

What is style?

In the fashion world, style means the preference of a person in the way they choose and put together clothing, shoes, and accessories. They pair pieces together in a way that reveals their personality and highlights their preferences and tastes.

Putting together an outfit is much like putting together a sentence. A writer will pick out certain words over others for many reasons: they prefer them, or maybe they want to convey a specific meaning. But a writer plays with their language in a way that no writer ever will, and just as everyone wears clothes differently, every writer has their own writing style.

A writer develops his/her style depending on what they read, how they’ve learned to write, and how free they are to express themselves through their medium of work. Writers must adhere to house style, or a manner or writing a certain publication has denoted to represent themselves. No matter what predetermined style a writer must follow, a writer’s personal writing style can always add personality to a piece of writing.

Following the Writer Meme fad, I created a Prezi to illustrate how style and style in writing are perceived by scholars, students, and the world at large. The credits for each photo and the commentary for why I chose each photo are included below.

Style Meme

What the general public (society) thinks it is: The word “style” is generally regarded as a reference to clothing preference or mannerisms. The phrase “she’s got style!” and the word “stylish” are used often and in reference to a good choice in clothing, music, or anything else. I chose this photo of two dapper-looking men to illustrate a pair of people who the general public would deem as “stylish.”
Credit: GQ

What experts think it is: The style “experts” would be considered the leading names in fashion and design. I included this photo with this section because fashion experts often think of “style” as being something new and dynamic. Every designer wants to be known as putting out the most original, most creative, and most inspiring pieces.
Credit: 4Fashionisty

What my friends think it is: My friends are 20-something writers and artists who see style as an expression partly of what society thinks is acceptable and partly what fits their personality most. I chose this photo because it defines perfectly what a young professional sees as style: dressed-up casual wear.
Credit: Iamnotasupermodel.wordpress.com 

What John Green thinks it is: John Green is an author, YouTuber, and nerdfighter—and one of my favorite public figures. Whether he is working on a new novel or teaching about world history on CrashCourse, John Green is saving the world in some way or another. John judges style not on fashion, but how you treat people and how you intend to “be awesome.” I posted this photo to illustrate that John believes that you can save the world in the most casual of outfits—especially if it is imitating a meme based off of him and pizza.
Credit: KittyDTTBA

What Emma Woodhouse thinks it is: Emma Woodhouse of Jane Austen’s Emma thinks that her way is the only way—and that would certainly count for style. Emma is poised, intelligent, and rather self-absorbed. I picked this photo because it not only displays the kind of dress Austen’s Emma would have worn but also a proper hat and a smirk that Emma would have certainly added as a key point in her style.
Credit: Wonderly.com

What I think it is: I think style is a complete expression of yourself—and for me, that means a simple outfit with a couple of key accessories and a look that shows you mean business. Emily Schuman (my favorite fashion blogger) is an excellent example of what I define as someone who embraces and displays her style in a clear and appealing way.
Credit: Cupcakes and Cashmere

Style in Writing Meme

What general readers think it is: For the general public, style in writing sets apart one writer from another, and often causes a reader to pick certain types of literature based on what they prefer and what they enjoy reading. I chose this photo because readers often define style as “good” when they love a book.
Credit: alisonmiller20.blogspot.com

What scholars and critics think it is: Appropriate style, according to scholars and critics, is formed based on the type of writing and the audience to which you are writing. The required style for a critical essay versus a young adult novel is dramatically different, and a critic judges style based on how well the author fits into this mold. I chose this photo because for scholars and critics, style in rhetoric is judged based on a formula that heavily includes audience.
Credit: Comphacker.org

What College Students think it is: College students often define style as what professors think deserves an A—oftentimes, college students only create a piece when they are writing an essay or a final paper in a course. I included this photo because it demonstrates what a college students composes when aiming for that “A,” and what a college students thinks is correct when they think of “style in writing.”
Credit: The Argument Research Group

What I think it is: As a writer striving to find my own personal, unique style, I define style as a product of what I read, what I experience, and what I study to improve and shape my own style. I chose this photo because it illustrates what goes on in my brain—and, therefore, what shapes and makes my style in writing.
Credit: philmckinney.com