McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Do you fear being influenced?

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eviladam:
I'm presentlly working on a science fiction novel and I LOVE sci fi movies, books, games ect. Only now I'm affraid to watch any of it for fear of being influenced. Do you guys have that fear?

Like I think if I watch City on the Edge of Forever from Start Trek TOS something will some how bleed over into my work. Not even any thing overt, but something.

Qualapec:
Yes. I'm playing around with a story idea right now. My main character's a wizard and I'm worried about him being too much like Dresden. Or any other urban fantasy hero for that matter.

~She-Wolf

Mickey Finn:
Influences happen. They're supposed it, it's part of storytelling.

Stephen King, in his introduction to Harlan Ellison's "Stalking the Nightmare," goes on about "Milk takes on the flavor of whatever it's closest to in the fridge." His best stuff seems to always be written while he's reading Ellison.

Neil Gaiman got famous being influenced by others. Hell, so did Jim.

The trick is to not make it a copy. The REAL trick is to make the influences better than the sum of the parts, which is what Jim does.

meg_evonne:
YES.  For example I just came up with a great name for a minor character that's perfect, instant reader recognition of the type of puffed up politician, but it just "feels familiar". It's too great to let it go, but I've made it bold and bright RED so if it comes to me that I've kiped a name I can change it...  Groan.  If it hasn't been used it is ingenious. ;D ;D

Wanna help me remember?  It's ... ta  dahh  "Percival McKinley"  He has a flaccid tomato head that wobbles over a portly short body,wears a tie with gravy stains.  Winston Churchill without the intelligence and oratory skills, but has instinctive political dexterity.   Huhhh... well it doesn't sound all that special now does it?  Maybe I should cut and paste over to the "bad writing" thread?  :D  I do love how it rolls around the tongue though and I look forward to wacking off his his head and letting it roll around the floor a bit...

sights unseen:
I did in the beginning, but then I realized that being influenced by good writing is a good thing. I think all authors are influenced by those that came before them. It's only natural and besides, how else are we going to learn to write as well as our favorites if we don't absorb some of the 'flavor' that King and Mickey referred to?

Kelley Armstrong on her message board said she got her idea for her Bitten series by watching an episode of X-Files. And now she's on her 10 book, I think. So wherever you get your influences, if it's a good thing, use it and run with it.

I hope to be heavily influenced by Jim Butcher's and Jack Bickham's scene and sequel writing construction. I've got the stories, what I need and am working on is the structure to put them in.

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