Many would say that writing is a solitary pursuit. That it involves long hours of deep and obsessive thought followed by longer hours furiously thrashing the keyboard into submitting a masterpiece of wit and plot, with a twist in the … Continue reading
Inspiration: Which authors do it for you?
I’ve always been a reader. In fact, I can’t remember ever not reading.
As a child I loved anything with ponies in – Silver Snaffles by Primrose Cumming was a particular favourite – and anything with adventure. I always had at least one Famous Five, Narnia or Secret Seven book on the go.
As I got into my teens, I became addicted to the Bond books (Ian Fleming) and Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle). Of course, whenever I could, I’d also sneak a peak at a Jilly Cooper or two – so wonderfully racy. The stories which have always fascinated me have been the ones that are quick-paced, complex, and difficult to solve/predict.
Now, as a writer, I’m inspired by authors who can sweep me up in their story, who keep me up at night (or have me dreaming in a day-job meeting) trying to fathom out ‘who done-it’ or, more intriguingly, ‘why done-it’.
And most of all, I’m inspired by those authors who have me thinking: damn, why the hell didn’t I think of that? Or marvelling at the fabulously web-like complexity of their plot.
So, who are these authors?
Well, there’s a range …
For seat-of-your-pants action and intrigue: Jeff Abbott, Lee Child, Dan Brown, Peter James, Michael Cordy, JL Carrell and Michael Crichton.
For beautiful prose and impactful themes: Daphne du Maurier, Rosamund Lupton, Jodie Picoult and Stephen Fry.
For unusual ideas and fascinating exploration: Michael Crichton, SJ Watson, Michael Cordy and Kyle Mills.
For the most amazingly strong POV voice: Jeff Lindsay.
But if I had to pick one, the author whose books I can never put down, that get me thinking, and that I return to again and again – it’s Michael Crichton.
I’ve always found the way Crichton takes near-future science and weaves it into the plot of thrillers like Jurassic Park, Timeline, Prey and Next intriguing, interesting, and frankly rather scary.
In thrillers like A Case of Need and Disclosure, he takes the ‘normal’ worlds of Medical and Business and turns the worlds of the characters who inhabit them upside down in a highly believable way.
Then, in stories like A State of Fear, he takes current science and shows what could happen if you take opposing sides of the global warming debate and have the characters take it to its farthest, and most dramatic, conclusion.
And that is, I think, why he is my greatest inspiration: whatever the initial idea, the themes of the story, or the unusual setting, he always takes the situation from normal day-to-day all the way to ‘what’s the absolute worst that could happen?’
And it always hooks me, and gets me thinking.
Who inspires you?
Taking the First Step
Need to write a scene filled with heart-clenching fear? Want to feel that shivery sweat and shaking breath? No problem! Here’s what you do- think about taking the first step. And what is the first step? Well obviously writing the…precious … Continue reading
Self Publishing: The How – And The WHY!
This gallery contains 4 photos.
A confession is my first order of business; my title is paraphrased from that of a very popular How-to Guide on self publishing that started out as a blog – quickly grew to over 20,000 page views per month – and … Continue reading
Moving on from a Dead Novel
Some things are simple to do whilst others will kick your guts before they’re even considered possible. Leaving behind a novel that you have poured courage and wisdom into can be just one of those moments. Let’s power up the … Continue reading
Preparing a Manuscript – Where my novel is now – Mighty Jock
The book so far….. Well, I have finally finished the first draft of my current novel, working title – Bullied. It feels good, or rather felt good, as I pressed the final button and checked the word count. Just shy … Continue reading
Letting go…
I loved my novel so much that I spent and invested a lot into it… But, now I have made a decision that changes all I did… http://www.imranwrites.com/2011/12/16/letting-go/
A cover letter! Eep!
Normally I would keep this to myself. I’d let my computer eat it, and it would sit in its belly. It would be regurgitated now and then, to be examined and tweaked, but ultimately it would be left there. Did I … Continue reading
Authority
Everybody wants to be in control. Not evil-moustache-stroking-control-the-world, but over themselves; their time, happiness, success, thoughts, bodies, everything. Instead of taking control and wielding it, it’s relinquished. It’s given away. Time is surrendered with a martyr’s sigh to the million things you have … Continue reading
What’s in a Title?
Conjuring a title for your novel can be an easy process or a difficult one with many sleepless nights. Here’s my take on what to consider when creating a title: http://www.imranwrites.com/2011/12/12/whats-in-a-title/
