social and patriotic
Stories of UFO's etc, and some abduction stories.
Anything by Klosterman!
The classic horror novelists, such as Poe, Bierce, Lovecraft, and those works by Kipling that most people don't think of, but especially Stephen King. I've always appreciated the way he tells a story as if he was sitting down and telling his good friend all about the horrific experience that he had or witnessed. There is no arrogance with King's work. I've always tried to achieve that in my own writing, but can't be sure how well I've succeeded.
Writers should read. And not only in the genre you're writing in. Read broadly - including non-fiction. Subconsciously you'll take in structure, pace and story development at the very least.
It's a wide spectrum, ranging from classics to the wierd and wonderful. I am into mystery religions and read a lot about that.
I probably shouldn't answer this one but I'm gonna.
If it's a well-written book it actually takes away from my writing because I don't want to put it down until I've finished it. But if it's a poorly written book (yep, there are some out there), I can set it down anytime--even in the middle of a page--and get back to my own writing.
I'm not sure that reading in and of itself inspires me to write. Whether I write because I have a different opinion than the writer, or whether it's just because I aspire to that writer's greatness is something even I don't know. Writer's write because they inherently need to do so. Most of us are highly opinionated and feel passionately about whatever we put into verse. It doesn't matter that no one else might ever read or know about what we wrote as long as it is written down somewhere.
An interesting question! Actually, poetry with its keen rhythms and tightness of language often revs me up. The "major" writers such as Joyce, Melville and their like intimidate me. Hearing almost any short story read aloud awakens the urge to put something down on paper.
Like answered before, anything can inspire me to write.
Writers that I've admired have been an inspiration; however, it has taken me a while to read like a writer, and find my own voice. All good writing inspires.
Any clever phrase which requires more than just passing the words through a thought process inspires me to write. It can be a billboard or a book.
Additionally though, particularly poor writing can also inspire me. There's lots of this everywhere. Too bad, life's too short to have to sift through so much garbage.
None, to be honest: I write every day as a matter of course. The only inspiration I require is the motivation to produce the best possible copy, whatever the subject. Thus, I spent several years polishing and fine tuning my book and re-wrote many chapters before I was satisfied with it. It's of 98,000 words but I've probably written half a million on the subject. I hope this doesn't sound pompous!
I love exceptionally beautiful writing, where each sentence is just perfect. This type of writing is intimidating, but inspires me to write and re-write until the piece is streamlined. Truman Capote, Graham Greene and F. Scott Fitzgerald are masters of this type of writing
Since I usually write non-fiction these days and I have to do research for some of my articles, I have shelves filled with books on mental illness. I also research the internet for resources and inspiration for my articles. |
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