Influenced

Now that I’ve gone and insulted all those who write with Harry, Frodo, and Aslan in mind (Edwards need not apply), I figure it’s probably not a bad idea to think about the books that have affected my writing. It’s strange, but I never really think too hard about this. Maybe I’m not destined to be a creative writer like I dreamed, because my mind is so unwilling to work with others. But, I’m not self-centered as to think I’m beyond the arm of influences, especially with newer books. So, let’s take a look and mock at what I consider viable reading and influential to writing.

Michael Crichton would be the top choice, what with him being my favorite author and all. I have never read a Crichton book I didn’t like, nor have I read an ending of his that I loved. I’ve often found his books slow to start, but once they get going, there’s no stopping. I can read his stuff in hundred-page sittings, unable to put them down. One thing he does amazingly well is tell us about characters and situations, in basically exposition, and make it thrilling stuff. I wouldn’t think learning about a character’s college course selection could be interesting, but Crichton does it. If I could make my info-dumping half as interesting as he did, I’d be sitting on gold.
Top recommended reading: Jurassic Park, Timeline, Next

Jack London is next. I should state I don’t write about wolves (though, what more noble aspiration is there?) but London proved something else. One of the great things he is able to do is tell a story with little to no dialog. Yes, his books have dialog, but the story is carried by description and interaction. London proves you don’t need witty dialog and clever back and forth to make for a compelling story. As much as I love writing dialog, London reminds me you don’t need to drown your story in it. You just need a good story.
Top recommended reading: Call of the Wild, White Fang

K. A. Applegate is probably going to get me laughed at, but take your mockery and go eat it with you egg and Potter muffin. You don’t read more than fifty-four books over five years and not be influenced by them. No matter what your views of Animorphs are, these will probably be some of the most important books in regards to my writing. What Applegate did so well was create a world that was interesting beyond its characters, because of its characters. I wanted to know the whole story of the alien races because of the characters I knew from them. What she also did so well was write each book in a different characters view point, making it so you felt what you felt about the characters strongly. I can remember my excitement for picking up a book told from Marco’s view, and my disappointment for finding the next one in Rachel’s view. Because of Applegate, I’m always drawn to serial writing and multi-character storytelling. I can’t imagine telling a story without at least five main characters, making each as different as I can.
Top recommended reading: Animorphs, Everworld

There’s so much more than that. The exploration of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the powerful use of letters in The Screwtape Letters and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the pure and unrelenting use of humor in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Recently, I’ve discovered the great writing in The Name of the Wind and Starship Troopers. As I read more and more of these great books, hopefully more of my writing will improve. Unfortunately, none of these books or the others have a magical wizard going through puberty, so I’m sure they’ll be seen as lesser forms of inspiration.