Which Style Speaks to You?
There's no "right" type of writing—just different flavors that appeal to different people. Let's explore what calls to you!
Quick Personality Check!
Before we dive into the different types, let's get a feel for what naturally appeals to you. There are no wrong answers—just honest preferences!
When you're telling a friend about something interesting that happened, do you usually...
Fiction & Storytelling
You love creating worlds, characters, and situations that never existed but feel completely real. Fiction is about the "what if" and the power of imagination.
Non-Fiction & Essays
You're drawn to exploring real ideas, sharing knowledge, and examining the world around you. Non-fiction is about truth, insight, and understanding.
Personal & Reflective
You write to process your own experiences, preserve memories, and understand yourself better. This writing is often healing and deeply personal.
Practical & Helpful
You want to create content that helps, informs, or guides others. Your writing serves a practical purpose and solves real problems.
Plot Twist: You Don't Have to Pick Just One!
The most interesting writers often blend different types. Personal essays can read like stories. Fiction can explore real social issues. Practical writing can be deeply personal. Here are some fun combinations to consider:
Try Before You Decide
The best way to know what fits is to experiment! Here are some quick tests to try:
The Same Story, Four Ways
Take one simple event (like getting caught in the rain) and write it as: 1) A factual account, 2) A dramatic story with characters, 3) A personal reflection on what it meant, 4) A helpful guide about what to do when caught in rain
The Voice Test
Write about your favorite food in different styles: Like a restaurant review, like a childhood memory, like a character in a story discovering it, like instructions for someone who's never tried it
The Comfort Zone Check
Which feels more natural: Making up characters and situations, or writing about real people and events? Neither is better—they just appeal to different minds
The Reader Reaction Test
When you read something you love, what do you think: "I want to write something that makes people feel this way" (fiction), "I have thoughts about this topic too" (essays), "This reminds me of my own experience" (personal), or "I could teach people about this" (practical)?
The Energy Check
What gives you more energy: Inventing new worlds and characters, analyzing and explaining things you've observed, exploring your own thoughts and feelings, or sharing knowledge that helps others?
The "Why" Test
Complete this sentence: "I want to write because..." Your answer might reveal whether you're drawn to entertainment, self-expression, connection, or education—all valid reasons that point to different writing types
Ready to Experiment?
Try one for a week. Switch it up. Mix them. This is exploration, not commitment.