It's Not Repeating Yourself. It's Your Fingerprint.
The way you write - and the things you say over and over - make your work YOURS.
This is part of my “Art of Noticing” series, in which I learn, find, or discover the things around me that usually go unnoticed and turn them into an endless source of creative inspiration.
Today I noticed some of Stephen King’s signature phrases, repeated over and over. It got me thinking that what sounds like “repetition” to one person is just “voice” to another.
I’ve been re-reading some of Stephen King’s old novels: The Shining, Cujo, and now Firestarter. When you use as many words as King does, you’re bound to repeat some recognizable ones … and this time, I saw them plain as day.
“Dig on it a while,” used in internal monologue.
The idea of a door “giving on” another space, rather than “opening into.”
Someone nervous having a “singlet of sweat” between their clothing and skin.
It was cool to see. It also made me realize that because it doesn’t bother me when I’m the reader, hopefully my own repetitions don't bother my readers. It got me thinking that recurring elements aren’t annoying; they’re linguistic fingerprints. In King’s case, it makes his work instantly recognizable … which is probably why, when he tried once to boot up a new pen name (Richard Bachman), fans saw the truth right away.
It got me thinking about the impact of repeating elements in the realm of art and storytelling. Repetition isn't always a flaw. In the right context, recurring elements can become a signature that bonds you to your readers.
Here's how this "noticing" can benefit my stories and art:
The Charm of the Familiar
Songs repeat all the time. Same lyrics, over and over and over again. But does it bother you? Not if it’s a song you like.
The chorus of a favorite song (with certain exceptions) doesn’t doesn't get old. In fact, you might even find new things to appreciate in “the same old song” with each listen. And so in the same way, I figure that putting recurring elements in a story or art can provide a sense of familiarity to your audience. It gives them something to latch onto, making your work memorable.
Making it stand out, in other words … which, lest you forget, is a good thing.
Giving You Your Unique Voice
When it comes to elements in art (words for me; might be colors or figures for you), there’s nothing wrong with re-using what works. Repeating elements, used just so, can make our work distinct. Picasso had his blue period, in which everything was blue. Hemingway had his terse prose, which never got less terse. Spielberg films are always heavy on a sense of wonder. It’s what makes those creators who they are.
Fine-tuning vs. Reinventing the Wheel
It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to reinvent yourself with every new project. And while it’s okay (even good, obviously) to explore and grow, discarding what’s worked in the past “just because” can almost make you look too diverse … and inconsistent. Instead of always starting from scratch, maybe look to riff off of what was already there in the past, fine-tuning your existing go-to’s.
But! Balance is Key
This whole “your unique fingerprint” thing can be powerful, but you can’t overdo it. Too much of the same-old can get monotonous. So be conscious of how you're using recurring elements, making sure they serve your vision rather than distracting from it.
Remember to think “fingerprint,” not the we’ve-seen-this-trick-a-million-times-before phenomenon that plagued M. Night Shamalyn after everyone got used to his (increasingly predictable) movie twists. You want to stand out … but for the right reasons.
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Yes! We always worry about finding our voice” but then we edit it away!
I tend to use the word "merely" too much. Also, "He cleared his throat" as a dialog tag. Fingerprints or overkill?