Writers typically fall into two camps when it comes to creating by imitation. One side proclaims, “You can’t ever learn anything if you only imitate, you must be original. You must create your own voice.” The other side of the camp says, “Art is imitation. It is only by imitating others first that we can be original.”

I tend to fall in the second camp of writers. While I believe it is important to cultivate your own style and voice, I am not about to claim that anything I write is wholly original. After all, people have been writing for thousands of years, who am I to claim that my ideas are completely original?

As I have developed my writing style and voice over the years, I’ve noticed a few patterns in my writing that I have “borrowed” from other writers. One is that my main character is usually fairly sarcastic. (This is one that I’m not sure is entirely borrowed, since I happen to be pretty sarcastic myself, but giving credit where credit is due).

The second pattern I’ve noticed is that I am much more of a character-driven writer than a plot-driven writer. I like to see how realistic I can make my characters, how much I can get inside their minds and see how they tick. Plot eventually comes along, but I often “hear” my characters first and then the story line follows.

Which leads to my third “borrowed” technique: dialogue is my jam. I love writing dialogue. I’ve often had whole chapters of characters chatting back and forth because I like to hear what they have to say. (Then I have to go back and see what is actually worth keeping, instead of giving into shameless self-indulgence). But this is often how I get started on a story – one of my characters starts talking to me and I think, “Hmm, you have an interesting perspective, let’s see where this goes.” I even have a little notebook that has bits of random dialogue that I’ve jotted down. They may or may not end up in a story one day, but in the meantime, it’s fun to see what the “voices in my head” say. (And now I sound like a crazy person).

Another pattern that I’ve noticed is that I like to have heavily introspective moments, often with one character wrestling with decisions he/she has made, overthinking situations, and whatnot. Again, I don’t know if this is inherently “borrowed” or if I am drawn to write like that because I often have deeply introspective moments of my own, but it is what it is.

There you have a couple of styles and techniques I like to imitate…and next time I’ll give you all a couple of authors who have heavily influenced my writing style. In the meantime, what patterns have you borrowed from other writers? Are you more of a creationist or an imitator?