In literary classes, professors like to talk about an author's voice. In these instances, they are talking about the unique stylistic choices that the author has come to be known for. However, developing a writing style is not just something that famous authors do. Whether you write to be published, to be read, or to clear your mind, developing your own writing style is a part of the creative evolution that drives us all. The process is often length and difficult, but typically encompasses several steps that are hard to avoid.
First, when finding your writing style, you need to think about the content that you gravitate towards. If you are someone who enjoys writing about current affairs, what does your voice contribute to the conversation? Are you a critic? Are you someone who looks for the silver lining? These stylistic choices inform your overall writing style. If you are someone who likes to write about fantasy, do you paint pictures of idyllic worlds? Are your stories dark and fraught with danger around every corner? The content of your fiction will often shape your tone, and thus your writing style in general.
Second, your writing style rests on the type of writing work ethic you cultivate. Often, writers who come up with ideas quickly and are able to mold verbal representations of those ideas at a rapid pace have a very blunt, stark writing style. In contrast, authors who like to stew over ideas for months before ever touching pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard will have a more lavish and verbose style of writing. Authors who prefer quick revisions will usually have a straight to the point type of approach to a plot, whereas writers who will rewrite their story ten times over before being satisfied will take long passages to set the scene along the way. From this perspective, the writing work ethic you operate under will have a large impact on your writing style.
Finally, when developing a writing style that is unique to you, you might want to think about how you want to be remembered. There are some parts of a writer's soul that are beyond the control of the writer, but the goals and aspirations of an author can tremendously influence the writing style they grow into. If you want to be remembered for your vision, you will likely put more time into imagery. If you want to be remembered for your honesty, your writing make take a conversational tone on. If you want to be remembered for your ability to fool the reader, your plots will become complex and intricate. The nice thing about writing is that, to a certain extent, you can develop your own style. By having clear cut goals as a writer, you control your own destiny.