This is the final in a five part series on writing a page turner story, novel or screenplay.
Don't force a style.
This may sound glib, but you don't find a writing style, it finds you. What I mean is that once you have mastered the basic craft of writing and have had some practice, your personality will begin to reflect in your writing.
When it comes to your style of writing, the most important thing is that it shouldn’t get in the way of the story. Writers who try too hard to impress readers with their vocabulary or their turn of phrase often just end up distracting them instead.
It’s when we are focused on the story itself, not the way that you tell it, that we keep turning those pages. Beware of using too many adjectives or adverbs. In your dialogue, stick to “he said” and “she said” rather than going for variety with clumsy attributions like “he averred” or “she confirmed.” When in doubt, go for the simple option.
In screenplays always make it your first priority to write in a way that lets the reader visualize the action. When I was a script reader I encountered quite a few comedy scripts that were entertaining to read but the humor in the stage directions distracted from, rather than supported, what was happening in the story.
In short: the best style is no style--because there really isn't any such thing as no style; when you write from the heart a style will emerge.
(Come on, it's time for you to stop procrastinating and actually write--or finish--that book or screenplay. I can help you with my online mentoring program. Find the details at http://www.jurgenwolff.com)