Before I go any further, let me reassure you that I didn't interview these people just to get my subscription list up on my newsletter. I really am interested in what published novelists have to say. I've picked up a few tips from people I've talked to.

But never one to look a gift horse in mouth, I just happened to mention fact that I was interviewing these people on a few forums that I visit. I signed up ten people on one day, which for a little newsletter like mine is superb going.

I bet you're wondering how hard it was to arrange interviews? In all honesty, it was one of easiest things I've ever done. Find a writer's web page, email them with a request for an interview and wait for a response. I'm getting a 50% acceptance rate at moment.

So there you go.

How to increase your subscription list by getting exclusive interviews!

Practice your own writing regularly, stand back dispassionately and look at it.

Read words out aloud, or preferably get someone else to read your work out to you. Ask yourself this important question: DO THE SENTENCES FLOW NICELY?

Look at flow: Is there variety in length and structure of sentences?

Correct awkward phrases or obvious repetitions.

Check is your meaning clear?

With no waffling (must heed that one!).

Then rewrite and rewrite to improve quality of your work.

Top writers rewrite many many times over.

Be aware that style can be changed to suit circumstances.

Style is very individual - it is your own style...and is YOURS alone - your unique personality "shining through".

Style may be simple, formal, and even utilize slang, or be more complex with long sentences, sub-clauses and paragraphs; but it should never lose its essential clarity.

The essence of good style, I believe, is SIMPLICITY. In writing articles for say, newspapers, your preference will largely depend on your market.

For example in UK, British newspapers like 'The Sun' generally have a short and sharp style - to appeal to masses.

'The Times' usually has longer and more demanding prose to stimulate "more edu-ma-cated" readers.

I've written this article in a "short and sharp, punchy" style.

I also have a serious, yet simple style for my novels on South Africa. They are written "from heart" In a totally different style to this lesson/article's "brief, punchy and to point" style. I wrote ANGOLAN DAWN in a different style to my other novels to portray way an unsophistocated big word!) Angolan migrant labourer would see world, think and speak

In my non-fiction works, like this article and my self-help books, I try to write in a style that will best accomplish my writing aim: to "inform, entertain and hopefully even inspire people to reach out and become all they are CAPABLE of being".

* When I write articles for "the international market" of net, I don't target particular countries and try to adapt my writing style. I've found that people around world don't seem to mind fact that I may use "funny" words or spelling - small details, like "s's" instead of "z's", color or colour...as long as grammar is reasonably correct. I just try to write in my "natural style with odd bit of whacky and zany" humour - one in which I feel comfortable (seeing I was brought up in South Africa with British English) and suggest you writers do same.

My advice is just find your "natural style" by writing as you Speak - as practice writing in your "natural style" breeds confidence. I hope this article may be helpful to you in learning more about your own "natural style."