I have made it plain that I am a writer. Or at least I think I have.
With that being stated, usually one writer inspires another in some way, shape, or form.
If I asked you to a name at least one writer who has inspired you, that you would have no problem giving me at least one name.
On my author blog a couple of weeks ago, I shared why I write what I do. So I probably should put this post on that website.
But I thought I would share it here since this one is more for other writers.
Who inspires my writing? I’m glad you asked.
1. Jodi Picoult
Yes, I have looked at some of her reviews and realize some people don’t think she writes that well.
I don’t think any of her books have close to a five-star rating, but most are in the four-star range with some below that.
I didn’t say she is a great writer, but I like her style. I like how she researches the real life issues she includes in her novels.
After I finished reading The Pact, I read about how she followed a police officer and researched about suicide. I enjoy researching and learning new things. Crazy, I know.
With each of the novels I have read of Jodi’s, she has done her research. She knows her topics before she ever begins writing her novel.
I aim to write like her because of that.
2. John Grisham
Back in college, I started reading quite a bit of John Grisham’s books because my Bachelor’s degree is partly in criminal justice. That topic intrigues me.
I don’t know if I can ever write novels like John has. But one of my writing goals for the year is to try something new.
Maybe if I can get some other projects finished, I would get back to reading his novels and hope they inspire me even more to write the crime fiction he does.
3. Stephen King
While I could never write horror like Stephen King does, I find his On Writing book to be a good writing resource.
Several people over the years have told me I needed to read that book. I kept putting it off until a few years ago when I was doing the summer reading program at the local library.
On Writing is full of Stephen’s honest thoughts of being a writer. I learned so much about my own writing after reading this book that I’m not sure why I put off reading it in the first place.
Writers don’t have to write in the same genre as us to inspire our own writing.
Yes, sure it helps because we can look at how they write a certain genre to help with our own writing. However, the writing technique is important, too, no matter what genre we write.
Singers do the same thing. The Beatles influenced my favorite singer, Rick Springfield, but I don’t think Rick’s music sounds much like The Beatles.
Is your writing inspired by a writer of the same genre? Or is your writing inspired in another way?