Tag Archives: writers

Inquiring Minds

The Books & Authors that shaped my writing…

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I went to my library of books and pulled all the ones out that I thought shaped me as a writer in general. These are ones by certain authors, which I am sure, my subconcious mind draws upon when I write my own stories and poems.

The authors range from Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Howard, Julian May, Anne Rice, Magaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams, Stephen King, Fritz Leiber, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, J.K. Rowling, J.D. Salinger, Brandon Sanderson,Harry Harrison, Ayn Rand, Fred Saberhagen.

I also snuck in a picture of a Comic book as well because I have been reading those ever since I can remember, so how can they not  have shaped how I write on a daily basis?

Let me know what books and authors have shaped you as a writer or even if you are reader of many books in general.

I have read much Fantasy ranging from low to high, Conan The Barbarian anyone?   And ‘The Wheel of Time’ – an  EPIC Series by Robert Jordan. Oh, and don’t get me started on the wonderful series of J.K. Rowling’s – Harry Potter.  And there are so many more fantasy writers that drive  me.

How about the beautiful poignant literary novels such as  Ayn Rand’s – “The Fountainhead” ,  “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel, J.D. Salinger’s – “Catcher in the Rye”,  or  Cervante’s –  “Don Quixote”

Are you a science fiction fan?  How about  Isaac Asimov’s – “Foundation Series”,  L. Ron. Hubbard’s – “Battlefield Earth”, or  Harry Harrison’s – “Stainless Steel Rat”.

Fancy some Horror?….  Stephen King, Anne Rice (even Ray Bradbury dabbled in it a little) ?

And lastly Comics…..Spiderman, X-men, Daredevil, Avengers, Hulk, X-force,Thor, Teen Titans, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and the list goes on…:)

I am discovering new ones as I speak. To me that’s the most  fun part of reading…finding that new favorite author.

What do you read…and what are your favorite stories?

Inquiring Minds

Kava Writers Collective – My Writing Group

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Meet Kava Writers Collective!

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Approximately a year ago I joined a writing group in my local area to better hone my skills as a writer and to feel not so alone in my desperation to want to be a writer….misery loves company…write? (I mean right?)

I kid actually…I think we all have potential in our own separate goals to want to be writers. Actually the founding member of the group, who goes by the  name of Susie,  who we all hail as the Supreme Dictator (I mean Leader) of the group was published  and is soon to be published again in March I believe on her second book and who is already hard at work on her third. She’s a powerhouse of wordum and knows her stuff…she’s definitely got the chops.

The group consists of nine people – of course people –  what did you think they were? Magical unicorns.  Shh….one actually could be….don’t tell him I said so though…we’re not to supposed to let on like we know.

Anyways, we meet every first and third Sunday of the month – weather permitting of course…dammit you  foul beast called snow that seeks to keep me from my destiny!

The group consists of five men and four women. It’s a pretty balanced group of individuals in the genre that they write to and in the way they may critique something you have written.  I love their feedback and think of them as invaluable coaches in editing and fixing what I can’t see that’s wrong sometimes with my writing.

In the last year, I feel I have grown under there honest feedback and response to my work. Besides that, they have inspired me to keep going at times when I get discouraged with setbacks that may happen in my own writing .

Their energy in their own work makes me want to push through, get the work done and be proud of a product that I can call my own.

How about you guys? Any of my followers or fellow bloggers belong to any writing groups or attend any workshops? If so, what do you get out of it?