I read primarily novels, my favorites of which are listed on my web site: http://www.outsideeyeconsulting.com/books.html
I also love to read certain publications which inspire me such as National Geographic (information about the world we live in), McSweeneys (humor), and Sun Magazine (other writers, writing).
I never, ever ever read self-help books.
I read a lot of classic literature. I love historical fiction, literature, and strange as well as science fiction and fantasy.
Presently, biographies and philosophy
Horror,thriller,mystery and murder
I find non-fiction much more inspirational than fiction. It really is true that truth is stranger than fiction. Very much richer and more complex too.
Its not so much as reading that espires me, but life itself inspires me and propells me forward.
Without doubt it's exhilarating words about overcoming obstacles and achieving ones dreams against the odds.
A wide variety. When I'm writing my first draft I rather like works from the period I've chosen. I also enjoy something quite different: an adult thriller, say. I do read books about writing too, and things that are thrown up in my work. These have included smuggling of Egyptian artefacts; dialects and regional identity; the role of women in Regency society and the Tatra mountains of Poland.
All reading inspires me. Good writing inspires me to match it. Bad writing inspires me to better it.
Anything I enjoy reading inspires me. Sometimes it clashes with my creativity because I start reading and then my mind clicks into creative mode and I have to top to jot down a thought , paragraph sometimes pages. I go back to read and it happens again. It's like my metal faucet gets turned on and the washer is broke so the pouring don't start.
I also make rue that if I'm reading fiction I read at least two books at once do that I don't mistakenly pick up the sound of who I'm reading.
News. Political stuff I read on Facebook and elsewhere. Bad arguments, even worse politics.
I find that, unfortunately, the best motivation is jealousy. When I read a book by a friend or a friend-of-friend, or I see a first novel from a young woman, or a first novel about young women, a blue flame switches through my gut and I think, "I need to do this. I need to do this hard, and strong, and better than anyone else, and I need to do this NOW." Sometimes I visit bookstores while carrying my laptop in a tote bag, just to kick my butt back into writing gear. I used to be a fiercely competitive runner, but I had to get surgery when I was 18. So I think I channeled all my race aggression into my writing!
Usually very bad writing inspires me to write and my emotions.
I'm more inspired by horror writers, but not exclusively. Some people I have been influenced by and provide inspiration to me are Stephen King, Clive Barker, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, H.P. Lovecraft, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Peter Straub, Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury and Chuck Palahniuk. |
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