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Unusual Writing Styles

Unusual Writing Styles

I’ve been reading And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard for the past few days and it’s written in a very odd style. We’re being narrated the story by some unknown speaker, it randomly goes into the past and back, and part of the story is written in poem. This got me to thinking.

Do unusual writing styles push readers away?

Obviously, that question is too widespread for an exact yes or no. I’ve read plenty of unusual styles that actually worked. Take Golden by Jessi Kirby. That book alternated between the protagonist’s story and the journal of a dead girl and, somehow, that worked.

But at the same time there are a lot of books that I’ve struggled to read because they were unusual. *cough*And We Stay*cough* Okay, And We Stay is a lovely book, but it is terribly hard to get into. You feel like you have almost no connection to the protagonist, and the poetry is probably just going to throw a lot of readers off. I know a lot of people who don’t really like poems.

Unusual writing styles seem to be hit or miss to me. Some, like 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher (which is written in the style of someone on tape cassette) hit it off excellently. It’s won awards and readers seem to love it. But others, like Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell (which hasn’t yet come out) I’ve seen more negative reviews for. Honestly, if tape cassettes made it, then why not a story told in part through letters? On paper, these things look fine, so there must be something more to it.

Which brings me to my next question.

What makes an unusual writing style work for you?

For me, I have to connect to the character. I have to deeply and emotionally understand them and the story, and the unusual method has to help me better connect to them. No matter what the format, I want a book that can make me laugh and can make me cry. I want to relate to the characters and understand their story. And, overall, have a reason to turn the page.

34 Comments


  1. // Reply

    I read Tape by Steven Camden a couple of months ago and it alternates POV from someone in the past and someone in the present with the fact that they can somehow connect by the tape that the person from the past made, at first I was little confused but after a while, i turned out to really like it. it was pretty awesome.
    Like you sometimes it doesn’t matter the format, if i can connect with the characters, with the story being able to feel emotions from it. Then I wouldn’t mind the format.


    1. // Reply

      Ooh, I haven’t heard of that one! Sounds interesting! I like unusual styles. They’re fun to read, but there are just some that are nearly impossible to connect to. Thanks for commenting!


  2. // Reply

    I read Tape by Steven Camden a couple of months ago and it alternates POV from someone in the past and someone in the present with the fact that they can somehow connect by the tape that the person from the past made, at first I was little confused but after a while, i turned out to really like it. it was pretty awesome.
    Like you sometimes it doesn’t matter the format, if i can connect with the characters, with the story being able to feel emotions from it. Then I wouldn’t mind the format.


    1. // Reply

      Ooh, I haven’t heard of that one! Sounds interesting! I like unusual styles. They’re fun to read, but there are just some that are nearly impossible to connect to. Thanks for commenting!


  3. // Reply

    I’m with you, if I can connect to the main character I’m ok with an unusual style. If the style keeps me from that connection then it’s a no go for me (Hideous Love). Great topic for discussion and one I was talking about this week with a friend.


    1. // Reply

      Oh, I haven’t read Hideous Love. Thanks for the warning!

      It’s just hard to enjoy a book that I can’t connect to, you know? Thanks for commenting!


  4. // Reply

    I’m with you, if I can connect to the main character I’m ok with an unusual style. If the style keeps me from that connection then it’s a no go for me (Hideous Love). Great topic for discussion and one I was talking about this week with a friend.


    1. // Reply

      Oh, I haven’t read Hideous Love. Thanks for the warning!

      It’s just hard to enjoy a book that I can’t connect to, you know? Thanks for commenting!


  5. // Reply

    I can completely see your point Kelsey! I struggled with And We Stay for that reason. Thirteen Reasons Why really got the unusual writing style down, I was in tears for about an hour afterwards, it just affected me so much! I struggled with David Leviathans The Lover’s Dictionary because it was just too different, and I also can’t handle it when a book has too many perspectives or switches tense too much, it just confuses me.
    This is a great topic πŸ™‚


    1. // Reply

      Oh, I can’t either. The perspective changes REALLY throws me off. Especially the ones that start off as one person at the beginning of a chapter and change to someone else in the middle without any warning. I really want to read 13 Reasons Why because of all the great reviews, though! I’m a bit scared to, considering what it’s about, but it sounds really good at the same time. I just hate crying. . .


  6. // Reply

    I can completely see your point Kelsey! I struggled with And We Stay for that reason. Thirteen Reasons Why really got the unusual writing style down, I was in tears for about an hour afterwards, it just affected me so much! I struggled with David Leviathans The Lover’s Dictionary because it was just too different, and I also can’t handle it when a book has too many perspectives or switches tense too much, it just confuses me.
    This is a great topic πŸ™‚


    1. // Reply

      Oh, I can’t either. The perspective changes REALLY throws me off. Especially the ones that start off as one person at the beginning of a chapter and change to someone else in the middle without any warning. I really want to read 13 Reasons Why because of all the great reviews, though! I’m a bit scared to, considering what it’s about, but it sounds really good at the same time. I just hate crying. . .


  7. // Reply

    I think for me, if there’s a connection with a character there, then I can usually handle an unusual writing style. It can’t be too ‘out there’ otherwise I can’t handle it, but sometimes I like reading something out of the ordinary.


    1. // Reply

      Oh, yeah, there are definitely limits to how out there I can handle. But I definitely need a connection with the character. If the connection is strong enough, I won’t care what weird way the author wrote it in.


  8. // Reply

    I think for me, if there’s a connection with a character there, then I can usually handle an unusual writing style. It can’t be too ‘out there’ otherwise I can’t handle it, but sometimes I like reading something out of the ordinary.


    1. // Reply

      Oh, yeah, there are definitely limits to how out there I can handle. But I definitely need a connection with the character. If the connection is strong enough, I won’t care what weird way the author wrote it in.


  9. // Reply

    I do like reading unusual writing style (sometimes). . If it isn’t too confusing and if I can connect with the protagonist.

    You should read Thirteen Reasons Why.. like, right now. It’s asdfdghjjk heart breaking. And the cassettes. . enough said. πŸ˜€


    1. // Reply

      I really just need to make myself read it. . . I just hate crying while I’m reading. Makes people disturb me and ask me why I’m upset, because for some reason they just cannot see that I am being choked by the hands of a beautifully emotional book.


  10. // Reply

    I do like reading unusual writing style (sometimes). . If it isn’t too confusing and if I can connect with the protagonist.

    You should read Thirteen Reasons Why.. like, right now. It’s asdfdghjjk heart breaking. And the cassettes. . enough said. πŸ˜€


    1. // Reply

      I really just need to make myself read it. . . I just hate crying while I’m reading. Makes people disturb me and ask me why I’m upset, because for some reason they just cannot see that I am being choked by the hands of a beautifully emotional book.


  11. // Reply

    I’m pretty open to unusual styles. I didn’t mind that And We Stay was in sort of omniscient POV. I was drawn right in to Emily and wondering what happened to her. Great discussion post!
    Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics


    1. // Reply

      I’m so glad you were able to connect! It was just one of those reads that didn’t work for me. I did wonder what happened and all, but I didn’t really feel it, you know?


  12. // Reply

    I’m pretty open to unusual styles. I didn’t mind that And We Stay was in sort of omniscient POV. I was drawn right in to Emily and wondering what happened to her. Great discussion post!
    Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics


    1. // Reply

      I’m so glad you were able to connect! It was just one of those reads that didn’t work for me. I did wonder what happened and all, but I didn’t really feel it, you know?


  13. // Reply

    Oh, I’m exactly with you. I can handle anything so long as I fully connect to the characters (kill me with the feels, please). Right now I’m reading Code Name Verity, which is a seriously STRANGE way to write a book. I mean, PART 2 is a different narrator…and the whole of PART 1 was back and forth from past and present, in the style of letters/confessions. But I LOVE IT. Because I’m so attached to the characters! I loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower for being in letters. I even didn’t mind Shatter Me (not my fav book) for it’s crossed out pages and weird style.


    1. // Reply

      OH. I’ve heard so many good things about Code Name Verity! I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds beautiful. I haven’t read The Perks of Being a Wallflower yet either, but it’s another on my neverending, mental TBR pile. I love something that’s unusual and different, I just need those feels you’re talking about!


  14. // Reply

    Oh, I’m exactly with you. I can handle anything so long as I fully connect to the characters (kill me with the feels, please). Right now I’m reading Code Name Verity, which is a seriously STRANGE way to write a book. I mean, PART 2 is a different narrator…and the whole of PART 1 was back and forth from past and present, in the style of letters/confessions. But I LOVE IT. Because I’m so attached to the characters! I loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower for being in letters. I even didn’t mind Shatter Me (not my fav book) for it’s crossed out pages and weird style.


    1. // Reply

      OH. I’ve heard so many good things about Code Name Verity! I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds beautiful. I haven’t read The Perks of Being a Wallflower yet either, but it’s another on my neverending, mental TBR pile. I love something that’s unusual and different, I just need those feels you’re talking about!


  15. // Reply

    For me I love unusual writing styles so long as the story still flows and the characters and plot are understandable. I love original narratives, I think you’ve commented on my review of all the truth that’s in me? That was such an amazing new narrative where the reader was addressed to as one of the characters, it worked so well! I also love when there is a first person narrative that’s very informal and addresses the reader a lot, Find me by Romily Bernard definitely has that, the character is so sarcastic and funny when she talks to the reader, I’m loving it so far!
    Great discussion post πŸ™‚


    1. // Reply

      Oh, yes. The story has got to still flow. I love the originality, but sometimes they just don’t work for me. I’m so excited to read All The Truth That’s In Me! I enjoyed your review of it. I finally have a copy. Just working on finishing the things I have to read first. And I really want to read Find Me! Bobbie reviewed that on here a month or two ago and it looks so interesting. I don’t, however, have a copy of that. Probably something for me to work on.


  16. // Reply

    For me I love unusual writing styles so long as the story still flows and the characters and plot are understandable. I love original narratives, I think you’ve commented on my review of all the truth that’s in me? That was such an amazing new narrative where the reader was addressed to as one of the characters, it worked so well! I also love when there is a first person narrative that’s very informal and addresses the reader a lot, Find me by Romily Bernard definitely has that, the character is so sarcastic and funny when she talks to the reader, I’m loving it so far!
    Great discussion post πŸ™‚


    1. // Reply

      Oh, yes. The story has got to still flow. I love the originality, but sometimes they just don’t work for me. I’m so excited to read All The Truth That’s In Me! I enjoyed your review of it. I finally have a copy. Just working on finishing the things I have to read first. And I really want to read Find Me! Bobbie reviewed that on here a month or two ago and it looks so interesting. I don’t, however, have a copy of that. Probably something for me to work on.

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