What is your writing style? Is there a tone or voice that comes through all of your work, either covertly or overtly? One of the best ways to hone it is to read multi-published authors. For example, if you pick up a book by Carl Hiassen, chances are very good that you’re going to read a story set in Florida, populated by characters who lean toward the wacky and weird, and that there will be an undercurrent of environmentalism mixed with humor.

Hiassen’s books are all different, but these themes and this writing style permeate his work. They also distinguish him from other authors. Plus, readers who picks up his books know a bit about what they’re getting as soon as they see “Carl Hiassen” in all-caps on the cover. It’s built him a devoted following, which all publishers want.

In a crowded marketplace and a hyper-competitive query landscape, the more you can distinguish your voice and/or your approach to story, the more you can stand out.

Think of your favorite authors–what themes do their books have in common? Here are a few more examples:

• Andrew Smith: His frequently insecure protagonists attempt to draw connections between seemingly unrelated things in order to find meaning or answer deeper questions in their lives.
• Maggie Stiefvater: Her stories typically feature multiple protagonists who harbor secrets from each other and live in intricately devised worlds that mix reality and the supernatural.
• Gary D. Schmidt: His sensitive protagonists try to overcome a personal challenge or tragedy with heart, humor and deepening personal connections.
• Jerry Spinelli: His spare writing ups the stakes chapter after chapter, building toward emotionally intense scenes of confrontation and conflict.
• Marcus Zusak: His characters are rooted in some sort of loss or sadness, and he weaves in supernatural elements that tie to bigger themes.
• Claire Vanderpool: She frequently writes a sub-story within the larger story and shows how a family’s history shapes who the protagonist becomes.
• Kwame Alexander: His protagonists tend to have a deep connection to family but struggle to find their place within it.

The more you read from the same author, the more you can get a sense for what makes their style/voice strong, what makes them unique, what they bring to their stories. Then you can learn to parse out your voice, to distinguish your style, to identify your unique way of telling stories, so you can make your voice wholly your own.