I was reading some of The Daily Post entries today, as I sometimes do, and a good number of them refused to play along with the prompt. Today’s prompt was this: Write a post about anything you’d like — in the style of your favorite blogger. (Be sure to link to them!)
I’m not sure if the participating (and I use that word loosely) posts I read were a good cross section of all of them (I perused about 15% of them) but a great majority of those I read said they didn’t want to imitate anyone, for various reasons. Some simply ignored the prompt and linked anyway, some said they couldn’t find a favourite, and some said they were too happy with their own writing “voice” to be bothered. One even thought it was creepy.
The whole thing reminded me of my high school drama class. We were given an assignment and had a few days to research it before we were to come back to class and demonstrate what we’d discovered. The assignment was to observe the way different people walk and imitate them. Not really a difficult thing to do, and yet no one in the class would do it. We all stated that it was too uncomfortable – we felt like we were making fun of people. I don’t remember if I refused to do it on those grounds or if I was too self-conscious to be the only one who did do it.
It seems strange to me in the blogosphere that people wouldn’t participate in such a thing as an imitation game. Is it really that hard to mimic another writer’s style? Is it that distasteful?
Would you do it?
lindaghill.com 
July 8, 2015 at 6:36 am
Oh yeah, I’d do it, certainly. The only trouble is, I would most likely not be able to restrain myself from taking the piss, and that would probably offend the subject of said piss-taking.
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July 8, 2015 at 10:11 am
Depends who it is, I guess. I wouldn’t be offended by your taking the piss, but if it was someone who doesn’t like me I would.
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July 8, 2015 at 10:14 am
It would never occur to me to imitate someone I didn’t like.
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July 8, 2015 at 10:17 am
Right. It’s a mean thing to do, which is why it would offend. Maybe the reluctance of most people here is a North American oversensitivity thing… what do you think?
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July 8, 2015 at 10:58 am
I think the British are less worried about making a fool of themselves, if that’s what you mean.
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July 8, 2015 at 11:18 am
There’s that, yeah. But all the politically correct crap (when it goes overboard) and being afraid of lawsuits due to defamation, as well as the belief that everyone is entitled to be treated like royalty… okay, maybe it’s not that bad, but you know what I mean, right? Whatever it is, it seems worse here than in other places in the world. I could be wrong.
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July 8, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Yeah, the American litigation culture is creeping in over here. I work for an American company and they’re terrified of being sued.
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July 8, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Ha! There’s another assumption – I assumed since you were married to an American that you live there. See? You just never know.
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July 8, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Oh I thought I’d explained that one, hahaha.
Did I send you this?
http://trueromantic2014.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/in-the-beginning-the-universe-random-thumbs-and-being-inappropriate/
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July 8, 2015 at 1:21 pm
You did, but I haven’t been reading anything lately but my own novel, ad nauseum. Thanks for the link again. 🙂
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July 8, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Oh sorry, I forget, who (me, Dale or Dale) sent what to whom. ;~}
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July 8, 2015 at 1:21 pm
It’s the first chapter of a blog I wrote anonymously, detailing my entire relationship with Rhonda, (warning, spoiler alert) my wife.
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July 8, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Cool. Thanks. 🙂 I’m sure I’ll get to it one of these days. I’ll keep a tab open to remind myself.
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July 8, 2015 at 1:23 pm
No worries, I wasn’t spamming you, it just saves an awful lot of typing.
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July 8, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Agreed. I can commiserate.
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March 6, 2015 at 11:55 am
Interesting. Not sure I could do this as a writer, but as an artist, we were asked to do this in college all the time. I could easily imitate someone’s artistic style any day of the week!
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March 7, 2015 at 9:34 am
That’s fascinating, Dean. I would think it takes a fair bit of practice though, to imitate an artistic style. I wonder how it compares to writing in terms of how the brain functions… Something to look into!
Thanks for this! 😀
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March 6, 2015 at 9:30 am
I think I imitate everyone. Everyone’s style influences me. So I try to only follow the writers I like best on WordPress–after all, it’s a good idea to avoid bad influences.
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March 7, 2015 at 9:32 am
Indeed. I’m like you – very easily influenced by what I read.
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March 6, 2015 at 8:35 am
I wouldn’t have a problem doing it per se, I’d probably see it as a challenge and enjoy it. I would though make sure to ask the blogger I’d planned on imitating if they’d be okay with it. I wouldn’t want to offend anybody, and people can be extremely possessive of their styles (including myself, sometimes), especially if they write about specific topics.
If someone were to imitate me, I’d imagine I’d find it highly entertaining. Even more so if it was done badly, I think. I’m not sure how some of my readers would react to it though. In the past a couple of them have actually linked me to blogs and articles that they feel have tried to emulate my style and ideas to an extreme degree.
Very interesting question, Linda!
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March 7, 2015 at 9:31 am
I’d be flattered if someone tried to emulate me… even if they did poorly at it. It’s more a confidence issue on the part of the imitator I think, than the reaction of many people to it.
Thanks for your thought-provoking comment, V. 🙂
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March 6, 2015 at 6:09 am
I wouldn’t try to imitate someone else’s style because it’s not in my skill set. I write more formally than most people and have difficulty writing more colloquially.
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March 7, 2015 at 9:28 am
There’s no evidence in your writing that you have difficulty, Joanne. 🙂 You’re doing great!
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March 7, 2015 at 7:27 pm
Thanks for the vote of confidence!
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March 6, 2015 at 4:40 am
There is no way I could imitate any of my blogger friends I could not pick a favourite because everyone is individual. It is hard enough to find my own style. Mind you my dad always said imitate is a compliant. Yet at school I was taught not to copy… Mixed messages. As it is I didn’t see the prompt so I was spared the dilemma. xxx
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March 7, 2015 at 9:27 am
It certainly is hard to choose a favourite, isn’t it? And yes, they do say imitation is the highest form of flattery… funny how many people are afraid to attempt flattery…
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March 6, 2015 at 4:34 am
Great post, Linda! that prompt would have turned me off too for many reasons, embarassing a person by not writing well, and how can I choose a favourite when I have several…nah, it sounds like your high school project…your class was awesome to not do it too:)
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March 7, 2015 at 9:24 am
It was the only time in high school I ever saw such a rebellion… Thanks very much, C. 🙂
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March 6, 2015 at 1:35 am
The reason I chose not to participate is because I didn’t want to make a mess of it and embarrass myself and the person I was imitating.
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March 7, 2015 at 9:22 am
That’s pretty good reasoning! 🙂
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March 6, 2015 at 12:50 am
Linda, I can barely write in my own style, lol! But your post reminded me of when I was a teen and we all *loved* to imitate each other and those around us. It was all in good fun. My teens can do an on-the-nose imitation of me…pretty scary stuff 😉
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March 7, 2015 at 9:22 am
Ha! Yeah, my eldest son “does” me to a tee as well. Mostly in my least flattering moments. 😛
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March 7, 2015 at 10:20 am
No kidding! Surely it isn’t fun to imitate us at our best, right? It’s that similar dynamic of when they’re little and you’re helping them learn to speak properly, which is a bit of work. Then you slip up and spout out an “adult phrase” and the child can speak it fluently! I’ll always be humbled 😀
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March 7, 2015 at 10:42 am
Ahh, me too, Angie. Me too. 🙂
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March 6, 2015 at 12:43 am
Hi. I actually looked at the DP yesterday and was going to have a go (for the first time). However, when I saw that we had to write in the style of someone’s blog we admired it put me off for a number of reasons. I am not that talented that I can totally change my writing style. I would be worried that I might not do the blog I am imitating justice, and therefore offending someone!
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March 7, 2015 at 9:21 am
I suppose it takes at the very least a certain amount of confidence to imitate the writing style of someone who might see it – I found a lot of people imitating famous authors instead.
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March 7, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Yes, probably just safer!
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March 6, 2015 at 12:28 am
I think that we try to do our best and show each other mutual respect Linda. This could easy be destroyed because even we can have a positive intention, it could be read in a different way.
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March 6, 2015 at 6:06 pm
It could. And yet I think it depends also on sensitivities.
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March 6, 2015 at 12:06 am
I have been reading several bloggers’ posts about the disappointing DPs lately. I would not know how to imitate another writer.
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March 6, 2015 at 12:13 am
I haven’t been reading the DPs long enough to be able to compare. Sad to hear they’re going downhill.
I imitate style far too easily – in fact my own writing changes quite a bit depending on who I’m reading at the time. For instance, I tend towards minutiae and similes when I’m reading Stephen King, but I get more overly descriptive when reading J.K. Rowling.
In other words I suppose I’m very easily influenced.
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March 5, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Walking like someone else or talking like someone else…well, yeah, I can see that. But writing like someone else? Why? WordPress teaches us to find our own writing “voice” (and I’m still not sure I comprehend what that means), and now they’re asking us to imitate another blogger’s writing style or voice? To what end? I’ll pass.
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March 5, 2015 at 11:50 pm
Quite notably, I might add. I was waiting to see if you’d do it.
You do have a very definite writing voice, Doob. In fact you’re one of the ones who I could pick out in a crowd of anonymous writers. I’m sure of it. And so what’s wrong with stepping out of the box for just one prompt? For fun… as an experiment to see if you can… to that end.
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March 5, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Well, two comments. First, you make me sound very predictable, meaning I probably need to shake things up a bit. Second, I’m very deliberate in the way I write, so every time I participate in one of your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompts, which is most of the time, I am stepping out of the box — for me. I have to admit that the SoCS prompts have been fun for me because I am doing something different, but I just don’t know if would even know how to write something in someone else’s style.
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March 6, 2015 at 12:03 am
Shaking things up a bit wouldn’t change the way you write unless you started writing in another language. Content aside, you are who you are. You write in your own voice and there’s nothing you can do about that… unless you consciously try. And it’s hard work!!
Have you ever had a real conversation with someone you usually message with on the internet, or visa versa? Even in these comments for instance… If you heard me on the phone, you’d recognize my speech patterns from my writing. THAT’s what writing “voice” is. It’s as indelible as your vocal chords are to your speech. And it’s a huge part of your style as well.
I feel like I just went on a rant. haha. I hope it didn’t come out that way. Too tired to re-read my comment.
Hey look! It’s morning already!
G’night. 😀
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March 6, 2015 at 1:04 am
“If you heard me on the phone, you’d recognize my speech patterns from my writing.” Ha! I think you’re giving me too much credit. Yes, I can tell the difference between people’s voices when I hear them speak, but I don’t think, if I heard your voice for the first time, I’d be able recognize who you are by the way you write. Hell, I can’t even tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi in a blind taste test!
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March 6, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Coke and Pepsi? Neither can I. I suspect neither of us has any taste. 😉 hehe
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March 6, 2015 at 5:57 pm
I know that’s true in my case…and not just when it comes to Coke and Pepsi!
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March 6, 2015 at 5:59 pm
But not in people, right? ‘Coz you like me. *bats eyelashes*
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March 6, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Absolutely. You are refreshing, bubbly, and taste delicious. 😉
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March 6, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Hahaha! Thank you! 😀
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March 6, 2015 at 6:28 pm
You’re pretty bubbly yourself, I might add. 🙂
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March 6, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Aww, thanks.
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March 5, 2015 at 11:40 pm
I would imitate your style if I could, Linda. Sadly, I can’t imitate awesome. =(
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March 5, 2015 at 11:46 pm
No YOU’RE awesome! hehe
I think you actually made me blush…
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March 5, 2015 at 11:38 pm
I think it had a lot of potential of going very wrong, unintentionally. I follow a lot of blogs and people certainly have their own styles, but nothing so obvious as a Tom Robbins. So you could do it well and people still wouldn’t get it. You could do it badly and offend people. You could do it well and offend people. So, once again this was a Daily Prompt that left me writing something not prompted by WP.
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March 5, 2015 at 11:43 pm
You do have a point – the subtleties of style do lend themselves to not being noticeable. I do believe it’s possible to do it well and at the same time not offend anyone.
Thanks for your comment. 🙂
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March 6, 2015 at 12:27 am
Oh, absolutely it could be done well and be a great deal of fun and not offensive. But for me (and I suspect others), the likelihood of it going the other way outweighed the positive. (Plus its a lot of work. 😀 )
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