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Young Writers Society


Who are your influences?



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Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:16 pm
Kylan says...



We've all been influenced by authors. Our writerly styles are molded by what we read and what we surround ourselves with. And so I think it would be interesting if everyone could post who their greatest literary influences have been, whether you're muse a comic book or from Homer. My own influences reach pretty far across the board:

(in no particular order, except for the very last one)

1.) Cormac McCarthy
2.) Sylvia Plath
3.) Orson Scott Card
4.) Kurt Vonnegut
5.) Markus Zusak
6.) Victor Hugo
7.) Christopher Paoloni (I can explain!)

-Kylan
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Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:17 pm
Conrad Rice says...



An explanation of your number 7 would be very interesting indeed, Ky! My curiosity has been piqued.

Alas, I am afraid I cannot provide as illustrious a list as you have done. Nevertheless, here is mine.

1. Stephen King
2. Madeline L'Engle
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
5. Alan Moore
6. Neil Gaiman
7. T.S. Elliot
Garrus Vakarian is my homeboy.
  





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Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:33 pm
Blink says...



How dare you (Kylan).

Mine? Ar-Kay:

1) George Orwell;
2) J.R.R. Tolkien;
3) Markus Zusak;
4) Ian McEwan.

I should read more, but those are my Big Four.
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Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:58 pm
Rosendorn says...



I, also, am rather selective. Influences include:

1- Tamora Pierce
2- Christopher Paolini (I don't care if you don't like him, I do!)
3- Donita K. Paul
4- Zoe Merrott
5- Nancy Kress (I own mots of her writing books. I haven't read her novels)
6- Kathryn Lasky

These are in a rough order. Yes, Christopher Paolini is high on my list. Why? I wouldn't really be writing if it wasn't for his stuff. But Tamora Peirce is queen.
A writer is a world trapped in a person— Victor Hugo

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Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:14 pm
Ducati says...



Not in order

Jane Austen
Oscar Wilde (for wit and irony)
Jasper FForde
My dad



um, Stephanie Meyer? lol just kidding!!
  





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Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:17 pm
Angel of Death says...



I really had to think about this one

(in no particular order)

* F. Scott Fitzgerald
* Jane Austen
* Shakespeare
* Sarah Dessen
* Charlotte Bronte
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Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:52 pm
GryphonFledgling says...



An interesting question...

1) Helen Griffiths - My single greatest influence because she was what drove me to writing. I only read one book by her (about an ugly horse) and I was young, but she influenced me to actually start writing my own story.

2) Jack London

After this, in no particular order:

* J.R.R. Tolkien
* Orson Scott Card
* Bruce Coville
* Isaac Asimov

~GryphonFledgling
Last edited by GryphonFledgling on Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:06 pm
JabberHut says...



I've actually been wondering about this for a while. One day, I just decided that a literary "hero," if you will, is rather important when it comes to writing. And so, my list thus far contains the following:

1.) Donita K. Paul
2.) My good (or best) friend's mom, Kristin Wolden Nitz
3.) JK Rowling
4.) Tamora Pierce
5.) Elsa Watson
I make my own policies.
  





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Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:19 pm
KailaMarie says...



(Not in order)

*Sarah Dessen
*George Orwell
*James Patterson
*Lemony Snicket


And actaually music influences my writing more than other books, even.
... :D ...
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Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:07 am
Kylan says...



Paoloni was the guy who inspired me to write my first novel, which was a load of crap. But he pushed the first domino, I guess.

-Kylan
"I am beginning to despair
and can see only two choices:
either go crazy or turn holy."

- Serenade, Adélia Prado
  





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Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:21 am
Jiggity says...



....ew....

in no particular order

1) Neil Gaiman
2) Roald Dahl (the adult short stories more than the children fiction)
2.5) Stephen King
3) J.RR. Tolkien
4) JK Rowling
5) Janny Wurts
6) Bernard Cornwell
7) Unknown author of a book the title of which I've long since forgotten - it was an Arthurian tale and it probably had the biggest impact on me.
8) Alan Moore
9) Tad Williams

ha, I have quite a few jigsaw pieces that have in some way influenced the puzzle that is my writing. There are more, I'm sure but I can't be bothered looking them up.
Mah name is jiggleh. And I like to jiggle.

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Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:30 am
Beccccaaaa says...



Okay well i only have one for now,

***Stephenie Meyers***
  





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Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:58 am
Firestarter says...



Random order:

Neil Gaiman
Alan Moore
JK Rowling
Michael Chabon
Kurt Vonnegut
Ray Bradbury
Bernard Cornwell
David Gemmell
Brian Jacques (first inspiration)
E.E. Cummings
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Pablo Neruda
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Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:02 am
thefireinmeisJC says...



hmmm...interesting question.
also in no particular order
1) Melody Carlson
2) Caroline B. Cooney
3) Markus Zusak
4) Ellen Hopkins
5) Dean Koontz. I've only read a little bit of one of his mystery novels but I like that it really pulled my in for the first few pages, so I'll put him down anyway.

These are more of my favorite authors than "influences" but they could be the same thing in a way.
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