Spheres of Influence

[madlori]

I once heard the author Walter Moseley speak. He is awesome. He is commonly referred to as a mystery/thriller writer (he writes the Easy Rawlins mysteries, one of which was made into a film starring Denzel) but he has also written straight-up fiction. He himself identifies as a writer in the “black heroes” genre

Comments

[slytherincesss]

I recently posted to LJ that my most favorite novel ever is Flowers in the Attic. Yeah, I said it. And I don't think they're nearly as bad as Twilight (which I genuinely thought was fan fiction -- not good fan fiction -- when I read the first book). I mean, come on! My Sweet Audrina!

My impression of On Writing was that it is more of a memoir than a how-to. But it's a good read.

[irisbleufic]

I was reading the likes of Richard Peck (amazing ghost stories), Lynne Reid Banks (best known for the Indian in the Cupboard series, which I loved), Natalie Babbitt, Lois Lowry, Madeleine L'Engle, Anne Rice...so, yes, not necessarily writers I'd point to now as my favorites, but ones who I know full well had a crucial hand in influencing the way I learned to write in those formative years!

[pennswoods]

Since I don't write, I don't have a good parallel to make, but I really enjoyed this entry. If I did write, I do have to wonder where my greatest influence would be!

[rawonderland]

Thanks so much for this post! I've never considered my writing influences that way - separating inspiration from the realistic, formative hands that actually helped develop my writing style. I'm so excited to think about this for a while.

[akissinacrisis]

I love this post.

I was wondering - it's starting to embarrass me that I've never read a Stephen King. Since Cujo is apparently not the one to start with, which would people recommend?

[madlori]

Honestly, his very first published book, "Carrie," is a fair place to start. It's quite quick, it's a page-turner, and it is very him. Other books I'd recommend for newbie King readers: The Dead Zone, Misery, Salem's Lot, and of course The Stand (if you're up for something hugely long, although it reads fast, all his books do). Two of his best books are It and Bag of Bones; both are quite long. It is from much earlier in his career.

His short story collections are very interesting; the stories vary in quality but many of them still haunt me.

[akissinacrisis]

Thank you!! :)