Under the influence

(If you’re here for the A to Z Challenge, my post for “B” is just below this on my blog (B is for Black God’s War). Or you can check out my post from yesterday, A is for Abercrombie, if you’ve not done so yet. This post is one in a regular series, posted on the second day of each month.)

I think it’s fairly clear that I’ve been influenced by everything I’ve ever read. “Matchmaker” shows off my familiarity with some Regency romance tropes, while my latest novelette demonstrates my love of Gilbert & Sullivan (I’m hoping the editors love it as much as I do!). Cozy mysteries, scientific prose, space operas — everything has been added to the mix.

If I look at this another way, though, and ask whom I would like others to see in my writing — as, for example, if one reads Old Man’s War, one can clearly see Heinlein’s influence on Scalzi — well, to be honest, at first I drew a blank on that, too. I talked to friends and looked at things I’ve said before, and the answer was right there on the front page of my site: Isaac Asimov.

I want to be prolific. I want to write across disciplines. I want to use clear language that draws the reader in, although I’m not adverse to making up words when necessary. And hey, if I’m remembered as well after I’m gone as he is? Absolutely wonderful.

No plans to grow muttonchop sideburns, though.

Today’s post was inspired by the topic “My influences (i.e., who would I like to be compared to)”– April’s topic in the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour — an ongoing tour where you, the reader, travel around the world from author’s blog to author’s blog. We have all sorts of writers at all stages in their writing career, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The next post in the tour will be on the 4th, by D. M. Bonanno. Be sure to check it out.

If you want to get to know nearly twenty other writers and find out their thoughts on crossing genre lines, check out the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour. You can find links to all of the posts on the tour by checking out the group site. Read and enjoy!

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6 Comments

  1. I was also influenced by Asimov. I discovered him in the 5th grade, when my class was reading a book of short sci-fi stories, and decided it might be fun to write about the future as well. (My primary genre is still 20th century historical, though.) In the 7th grade, my English teacher said that when Asimov stood next to everything he’d ever written, it was taller than he was. I knew right then and there that I was going to do that too someday. I’m pretty sure I’ve achieved it, through books both handwritten and typed, but I’ve yet to see that come true with things I’ve published!

    • I’d love to see that come true with things I’ve published, too, but it might take a while with the majority of publication being electronic! 😉

      Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

  2. Good call on the no mutton chops thing…

  3. I have a lot of influences too and would love to write like the classic writers Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen and Dickens. Also, wouldn’t mind writing a mystery like Agatha Christie.

    • Ooh, lovely influences! Yes, I could reread Agatha Christie forever. 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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