8 replies to this topic

[Arno]

I know, I know ... 'anxiety of influence' and all that, but let's just face up to the things that drive us to engage in literature, shall we? I want to know who you guys look up to, literature-wise. Which author never fails to reignite that spark inside of you, making you want to read more books, or redefine yourself artistically? Who would you say has been your biggest influence? Heck, is there someone you absolutely despise, making you want to explore the exact opposite of what he/she writes/reads?

For me, everything began with Dutch avant-garde writer Ivo Michiels. He is often considered to be the father of Dutch experimental literature, due to his 'Alpha cycle', in which he pushes the boundaries of narration, language and existentialist symbolism. Besides being an author, he was also a journalist, director and intimate friend of the world's most innovating painters and other artists during the 50's and 60's. I dedicated my 'Bachelor paper' to him (for non-Belgian people: the thing you write after 3 years of University) and now I'm working on a PhD on the existentialist discourse in his last cycle (between 1983 and 2001), which I'm hoping to finish in 2014.

[Redshift]

Stephen King is the sole reason I began to write and one of the reasons I read as much as I do. He's not too fancy or classic, granted, but his stories have always captured my attention and have recently influenced me to let my own creativity flow.

[Lord Adib]

The thought of bringing out and engaging my introspective side; the prospect of inundating myself in that pensive mood which opens up so many avenues of raw emotion; and my love for seeing the beauty of language in its unbounded versatility written down and set in stone so that its potency can be immortalized for posterity. This is what motivates me to write.

[amar]

this is the reason why I think this subforum is a joke, cause decent topics like this don't really get the attention they deserve

I don't write nor read much literature, but my lexico-grammatical and syntaxical idiosyncrasies are influenced by contemporary academics (too many to name), the way they write, explain, inform, convey, structure, use analogies, argue, agree, disagree, or whatever, I learn something new and usually absorb it like some lingual sponge and try to use it in my writings when I write essays or whatever (not when I post on rsc as you will have noticed)

[Arno]

I can relate to what you say. One of my most thorough influences in that area has been my professor of contemporary Dutch literature, whose articles are so incredibly erudite yet crystal clear and impeccably constructed, that they never fail to drive the point home, even in dealing with the most vague and elaborate areas of literary historicism and criticism. I can probably still recite pieces of his articles I had to read in my third year of Uni, which is something I cannot say of any of my other professors.

[Slayboy]

I usually try and capture a feeling with my words. I string words together to evoke an emotional response, usually without attention to rhyme scheme or any particular structure. Above all, death inspires me. My writing is consistently grim and apocalyptic.

In terms of writers, Lovecraft and Vonnegut are probably my current favorites. Lovecraft's writing is so emotive and dark, and Vonnegut is just... Vonnegut. His writing is so ironic and interesting.

[Snowtopia]

What inspires me to write are mainly quotes. I love quotes because when I read them my own version of the meaning comes up in my mind. Such as a quote "Death is the solution to all problems. No man - No problem." - Joseph Stalin. When I read that quote I think about how the world is and how little good in it in; if humans weren't the species that controlled it would the world be better or worse, with no one or with a better civilized species. From there my ideas come onto the paper and it starts to flow; then it opens doors for new ideas.

Edited by Snowtopia, 25 January 2012 - 11:06 PM.

[Anti-Troll]

Life experiences. A whole bunch of my poems are based off life experiences, usually something that's big but not necessarily traumatic. Sometimes I base my poetry off of quotes or ideas, but not as often as I would something that hits closer to home. Similarly to Slayboy I try and emphasise emotion rather than form, although in less abstract prose I do put a lot of emphasis on style. Call me crazy, but I don't really look up to any particular writers. I just pick up my pen and go from there.

~Anti-Troll

[Murdoc]

Lord Adib, on 01 January 2012 - 09:12 PM, said:

The thought of bringing out and engaging my introspective side; the prospect of inundating myself in that pensive mood which opens up so many avenues of raw emotion; and my love for seeing the beauty of language in its unbounded versatility written down and set in stone so that its potency can be immortalized for posterity. This is what motivates me to write.

Couldn't have put it better in my wildest dreams. Whilst I admire the works of great classical figures such as Thomas Hardy, Dickens, and maybe Pinter too come to think of it (obviously the list goes on and on...) - I've never felt a pressure or need to try and imitate their various styles as maybe others have/do. 1) It's not like I could do those men and women any justice as even trying to feels like an insult, and 2) "wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are" (didn't wake up this morning expecting to quote Marilyn Monroe lol).

amar, on 10 January 2012 - 02:46 PM, said:

this is the reason why I think this subforum is a joke, cause decent topics like this don't really get the attention they deserve

QFT