What are some of the best tips you've taken on board from other writers whose work you love? Name the writers and their book that inspired you, and how it did so.
I can’t say I’ve ever taken notes on pearls of wisdom about writing, even from writers I admire. I do think I take many lessons from how they compose a story, how they conduct themselves as a public figure, how they create an authorial persona.
Writers like Ken Bruen and Barry Gifford come to mind when I think about how important a unique voice is. These are two writers who I greatly admire and who you could remove their names from a book and I’d still know it was them two chapters in. The downside is I constantly self-censor myself for sounding “Too Bruen” or “too Gifford-esque” Such distinct voices risk mimicry.
I remember killing more than few songs back in my band days for sounding too much like other artists who had influenced me. My bandmates would protest and say it was still a good song, but I knew I’d never be able to play it and not think of the musicians I was ripping off. I'd hate to have someone reading something of mine and think, "Well, this guy is surely a Ken Bruen fan."
Similarly, a writer like Joe R. Lansdale taught me to be proud of sounding like yourself. Joe is unabashedly East Texas on the page and he never shies away from that or tries to sound like anyone or anywhere else, despite what the flavor-of-the-month in publishing might be. Be true to yourself and the readers will find you.
I could say the same about Christa Faust, a fiercely singular writer who does not care if she’s not your cup of tea. As a result, she writes some of the most entertaining books I know.
I’ve long cited A Simple Plan by Scott Smith as the book that made me solidly a thriller reader. I’d been an eclectic reader until then, following suggestions and borrowing books. I read Horror and Sci-Fi, tried books that were the source of movies I liked. I even read The Bridges Of Madison County because someone said I should. I grew to know what I didn’t like. Then I read A Simple Plan. It scratched every itch and I knew all I wanted was to find more books like it that gave me that same feeling. It also solidified my love of crime stories with ordinary guys in them. Even if I like then, my top novels have never been PIs or police procedurals. I like stories of normal folks living normal lives until fate comes in and sticks out a foot to trip them up and knock them to the ground. Most of my books have followed suit. I can trace that inspiration back to a single book.
Brian Panowich taught me how to fight for your story even if it threatens to derail your publishing career in its infancy, but not compromising is more important than a few extra book sales.
John Rector taught me the value of knowing when to walk away.
Countless authors with long careers taught me the value of sticking with it.
Bill Crider taught me that being kind and helping other authors didn't have to be a chore.
I learn a little something with every book I read. Sometimes I learn what not to do – or what I certainly don’t want to do. Sometimes I learn to trust myself and follow the story off the beaten path. I learn that a little sentiment is not a bad thing. That humor and darkness can mix well and each elevate the other. Now and then I learn that if this pile of crap can get published then maybe I still have a shot.
And once in a while, I can look back at my own work and learn that yeah, I really can do this. Time to go do it again.
No comments:
Post a Comment