Actually, I am at work on a story that strictly speaking must be called a fantasy, and not another Tolkien ripoff.
In THE HOBBITS, I intentionally immitated Tolkien. For sentimental reasons, as well as pride, I suppose, I don't really want to publish a work that is "just like Tolkien." In other words, not another sword & sorcery kind of tale. If I feel the need to scratch that itch again, I'll write another Middle-earth fan fiction.
I'd like to see published a fictional novel about the Millennial Kingdom, a matter of fable, legend, and some would say prophecy. This would be a fantasy, because of its supernatural elements and that different "sense of place" with which it must be imbued.
In scenario and vignette drafts of my "Millennial Fantasy," I find that I have exorcised the overt Tolkien style. But there is still much there that someone looking would be likely to see.
I used to think that I would write in a style like Asimov or Heinlein. Then it seemed to me that I could find no prose style more worthy of emulation (in my opinion) than Tolkien's. He himself wrote in several different styles, it seems to me.
There was the chattering, prattling, almost condescending storyteller found in much of THE HOBBIT (and in my own story). Toward the end of that tale, and throughout LORD OF THE RINGS, Tolkien wrote in a style of somewhat higher prose. In some places, like when the Riders of Rohan ode to the rescue of Minas Tirith, the writing resembled that of the old Northern European myths. Epic stuff.
Since my next effort (even if I do a time travel story first) will NOT be a traditional dragons and fairies kind of tale, I am worried less about suffering in comparison, should one be made.
It seems to me that the greatest difficulty faced by the would-be fantasy writer is that the conventions of modern fantasy are almost cliche. I hope to evade them entirely in my next fantasy effort. If I were to write a goblins and wee people sort of tale, I honestly don't think I could do it without it being some kind of homage or ripoff.
I think if you can look at the first works of an author, and compare it to the last, then you may often find that the style employed has changed with time and practice.
I think that this is the key (pardon me if someone has already said this!) to developing a unique style. Time, patience, and practice.
Practice, practice, practice.
Reading and emulating the work of great authors is an excellent learning tool. But in the end, I suppose that the only way to learn how to write is to write.
And write, and write, and write...
(Of course, there are those folk of rare genius who have a first novel with an utterly unique and world rocking style spring forth from their brains like Athena from the brow of Zeus, but these solitary individuals would not likely be reading this thread! I'm sure such folk exist, but I've never met one!)
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