I’ve wanted to be a writer for pretty much as long as I can remember. Even before I could really write words, I would draw squiggles and pictures and make up a story. My dad would come from work in his suit and tie and I would make him sit with me while I told him the story I had “written.”
Jump forward seventeen or so years and it’s pretty much the same. Still, I like to think about what influenced me to become a writer and what really inspired me to pick up the pen and writer seriously. Here are a few books that changed my perspective.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
This book touched me as a ten year old kid in so many ways. It’s one of the few books that have made me cry. It taught me how characters can become real people and how you can layer any story. Creech creates characters you can simply relate to. This isn’t just a wonderful book for kids, it’s a wonderful book for anyone.
Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Six years later, I picked up this book because I wanted to “graduate” from kid books (psssh). As soon as I started reading it, I fell in love with the mythology and the strong female characters. And again, the layering of each element of the story makes it unlike anything I’ve since read. It remains as one of the books I wish I had written—and one that I wish would never end.
Paradise by Toni Morrison
Morrison continues to be one of my favorite authors, mostly for this book. After reading this, I began to understand what makes a writer truly great. The way she made reaching another world seem possible—and the way her descriptions brought you into the story—made me realize that this is what I wanted to do. I couldn’t live without words.
What books have inspired you? What do you look for in a story?
♪ Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – If I Had a Gun… ♪
Alex Schnee 
The Chosen by Chaim Potok inspired me to write as a lanky and awkward middle school girl. In adulthood, Madness and Center of Winter by Marya Hornbacher inspire me to write and never stop. Great post! –Jasmine
jasminekevans.wordpress.com
My biggest influences as a writer are Richard Matheson’s short stories, Seanbaby.com and a book of William Goldman’s screenplays, containing the ones for “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, ” “Misery,” “The Princess Bride” and “Marathon Man.”
You know what began it for me? “Goodnight Moon” at the age of five, by Margaret Wise Brown. I still have the copy.
The God of the Small Things by Arundhati Roy. Freshman year of undergrad. I couldn’t decide between journalism and creative writing until that book made it clear for me. I had to be like her.
These are all great! So cool to know what inspires people to do what they love.
When I was a kid I remember reading a book called “Runaway slave.” It was about slavery in America. Sadly, I can no longer remember who the writer was. That was the first book to make me cry and realise the power of words.