What Would They Do?
Happy Friday, Lurkdom! Today marks the first weekend of NaNoWriMo, which means I have no excuse not to rock my word count. While I’m doing that, instead of pondering WWJD, I should think about authors I love and what they would do if stuck with a difficult plot.
Or a bout of “I can’t take it anymore” itis*.
Stephen King. Not that I write horror or even long-ass descriptions, but I admire Stephen King for his tenacity and belief in a project. This is something I have talked about before on The Pie, but it definitely bears repeating. SK had such faith in Roland’s story that no matter how many times he put it down, he would pick it up the pen again and continue on.
Whenever I begin to doubt my own pet project, I think about The Dark Tower.
Personal SK Pick: The Dark Tower series
(Hm… This is more difficult than I originally thought. Maybe it’s because a lot of the writers that inspire me aren’t actually visible in my writing?)
Madeleine L’Engle. She has written some of my favorite stories. It was in A Ring of Endless Light that I got some of the best writing advice as well: to be a better writer, you must read.
Personal L’Engle Pick: A Ring of Endless Light (no contest there)
Thomas Hardy. I know, you didn’t expect that. To be honest, I wasn’t planning on including him. It’s not like I’m a huge fan of the classics or talk about them a lot, but something about the way Hardy tells a story is a great. The way he is able to incorporate the tragedy of life in his work is amazing**.
Besides, check out that mustache.
Personal Hardy Pick: Return of the Native
(And it looks like there will only be four today. This writing on a time frame is H-A-R-D.)
Anne Rice. She was my first foray into vampire fiction, way before we learned that vamps can sparkle. With Lestat, she created an anti-hero that won over tons of hearts and have fueled many a late night debate with Bestie Danielle.
Personal Rice Picks: The Vampire Lestat and Memnoch the Devil
I can only think of four. Which authors inspire you?
* Yeah, writing has been slow-going.
** That could be the inner goth talking.
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Last.fm hit of the day: Kick in the Eye by Bauhaus
Great choices. I love Stephen King's book On Writing especially when he talks of coming up with some of his ideas.
I have no intention of writing horror, but I will read (and have read) Stephen King. I don't always like his style, but I'm fascinated by the way he deals with some interesting concepts. I respect the fact that while he has made his mark as a horror writer, he really is (as I think Janet Reid said one time) a genre unto himself. I might have included him on my list just for his book On Writing, which is one of the best books on the subject I have read so far (and I've read a few).
All the best with your NaNo weekend, Alicia! 🙂
LOVE Madeleine L'ENGLE! 🙂
Great pics! I had a hard time narrowing mine down – so many inspire me!
Great choices, Alicia! Like Alison, I thought of TOO MANY and had to narrow my choices way down. I love that you include Stephen Kind… he rocks!
Madeleine L'Engle is a GREAT choice! I wish I had thought of her!
My favourite Stephen King pick is The Stand. He is unbelievable with description! Thomas Hardy's mustache is indeed epic. Great choices 🙂
Stephen King and tenacity – exactly! I'm scared of his books, but I'm definitely an admirer of his work ethic.
Hardy's moustache is better known as Sir M. My fave of his is Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Great tragic story of love and duty. I heart the descriptions of the countryside.
Woah, I had no idea about the moustache! Love it!
I adore L'Engle too — we had a reading from her at our wedding.