Exploring the Writing Styles of Different Authors
- Atharava Agnihotri
- Aug 19
- 3 min read
Books are not only about stories. They are about how stories are told. The same plot in two hands can feel completely different. Writing style gives an author a unique voice. Readers often return to a favourite author not just for content, but for how the words make them feel.
Ernest Hemingway and Simplicity
Hemingway is known for short sentences and direct words. His style is clean, with no extra decoration. In The Old Man and the Sea, he describes struggle and hope with plain language. Yet those simple lines cut deep. Hemingway believed in saying less but meaning more. His style proves that clarity can be powerful.
Jane Austen and Social Observation
Austen’s novels, like Pride and Prejudice, balance wit with detail. She writes with elegance and humour. Her style reflects a sharp observation of society. Conversations carry subtle irony, and characters are revealed through dialogue. Austen’s writing feels like stepping into a well-lit room where manners and emotions collide.
George Orwell and Precision
Orwell believed in clear, purposeful writing. His works, like 1984 and Animal Farm, show how style can support political ideas. He avoided complex words and preferred honesty. His essays argue against vague language. Orwell’s style makes readers think not just about the story but about truth itself.
J.K. Rowling and Imagination
Rowling’s style in the Harry Potter series blends simplicity with wonder. She writes in a way that young readers understand, yet older readers also enjoy. Her descriptions create vivid worlds without slowing the pace. Dialogue feels natural, and humour balances darker themes. Rowling’s style proves that accessibility does not mean lack of depth.
F. Scott Fitzgerald and Elegance
Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is filled with lyrical sentences. His style is poetic yet sharp. He uses metaphors to capture moods, turning simple scenes into rich pictures. His style reflects beauty and sadness at once. Reading Fitzgerald feels like listening to music, where rhythm matters as much as meaning.
Arundhati Roy and Flowing Prose
In The God of Small Things, Roy uses language like a stream. Her sentences flow, sometimes long and winding. She bends rules, using repetition and rhythm. Her style feels personal, almost whispered. Roy’s prose shows how language itself can become an experience, not just a tool for storytelling.
Haruki Murakami and Dreamlike Tone
Murakami blends ordinary life with surreal moments. His style is calm, almost minimalist, yet dreamlike. In Kafka on the Shore, his simple words lead to complex emotions. He often uses music references, giving his stories a cultural rhythm. Murakami’s style makes readers feel like they are between reality and imagination.
Why Styles Differ
Writing style depends on culture, time, and purpose. Hemingway wrote in a world shaped by war, so simplicity matched the mood. Austen reflected society’s manners. Orwell focused on politics. Rowling reached children while building a fantasy. Each author’s style mirrors their world and their audience.
How Readers Connect
Readers often choose books based on style. Some love the sparseness of Hemingway. Others enjoy the lyricism of Fitzgerald. Styles shape emotions. A thriller with sharp sentences feels tense. A romance with flowing prose feels warm. Movies based on books also highlight this. The film version of The Great Gatsby tried to capture Fitzgerald’s lyrical rhythm with visuals, proving how much style matters.
Why Style Will Always Matter
Plots may repeat across literature, but style never does. It is what makes Austen different from Rowling, or Murakami different from Orwell. Writing style is the fingerprint of an author. It creates loyalty, sparks debate, and inspires future writers. For readers, style is the reason a book feels alive. It is not just what is said, but how it is said, that lingers long after the last page.


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