The real reason for me had nothing to do with the authors I loved. In fact, for a long time those were the very ones who held me back. If I couldn't build a world like J.K. Rowling then why bother? Or make you believe the monsters under your bed were waiting to eat you with sharp, dripping teeth like Stephen King, then what was the point?
In other words, if I couldn't be great then I wouldn't be at all. This is the grown up version of if I can't be the leader then I'm not playing. It's just an excuse and not even a very good one. Because most writers aren't great in the beginning and without the work...you won't ever be.
No, it wasn't great writing that inspired me. It was the crappy kind, the really bad writing. Those stories that slipped through the cracks of this industry and somehow made it to the shelves without plot or weak cardboard characters. None will be named here and honestly I couldn't remember specific ones anyway. But after finishing one of them the thought crossed my mind...I could do better. Not in a condescending, superior sort of way but in a light bulb flash of truth. I could do better. And if I could do better than this, then someday I could be great.
When I read a book whose writing doesn't draw me in and whose characters make me want to kill them by chapter two, I don't get angry. Because this book might have inspired one of the authors I love to write better. It makes me want to kiss those crappy writers for their effort and after all, we hear over and over how subjective this business is.
Those crappy writers might be your favorites.
I tip my hat to any writer who has produced and published, despite all subjective valuation.
ReplyDelete^What she said.^
ReplyDeleteHa, what a cute pic! To answer your question, it was a definitive moment in time that made me start writing. Like you, I enjoyed many writers but never thought of writing professionally. I was doing something completely different when I had the idea for my first novel.
ReplyDeleteSet me off on a great path, though :o)
I love this post! :) I know what you mean about the 'crappy' writers, and I totally agree. Sometimes they're the best way to learn!
ReplyDeleteI still do this. I just read a novel a few weeks ago (well, I didn't actually finish it because it was just that bad) that made me say those infamous words, "I could do better than that."
ReplyDeleteIt's a good motivator and gives me hope that some day someone will think my work is crap too.
So true. I'd like to think that all writers have had this feeling when reading a novel: "Hey, I could do this. Maybe I can even do it better."
ReplyDeleteIt's like the Rowlings and Kings of the world make us WANT to be writers, and certain other writers then make us believe we CAN be writers.
I love what Jennifer said. It's so true!
ReplyDeleteI think I came by writing the same way - I could just do better. And I thought I had something more interesting to say! Something deeper, something more important to tell the world than some of these terrible books that somehow became hits.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, Marsha! I've also been intimidated by the greats, and then inspired by the not-so-greats. Because hell, if THAT can get published, so can mine! I'll work on being great later.
ReplyDeleteI write for the same reason, my giant ego thinks it can do better. ;)
ReplyDeleteI like to tell stories.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. When I read books that aren't good for me, I know what I don't want to write. I learn so much from them.
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