What author, artist, etc. do you try to emulate in your writing?

1. 60

   hawkdad73posted 12 years ago

   What author, artist, etc. do you try to emulate in your writing?
   
   I tend to draw inspiration when I read (or watch movies) about my favorite authors.  For example, I am more apt to fume at the powers that be after a Hunter S. Thompson fix.

   replyreport
2. 0

   msorenssonposted 12 years ago

   I wish I have the staff researchers of James Clavell, the clarity of thought of Chogyam Trungpa, the verve of Ayn Rand, the insight of Hemingway, the flair of F. Scott Fitzgerald, the humour of Nora Ephron, the American-ness of John Updike and....so on and so forth...
   I do not know how to emulate them..

   replyreport
3. 60

   Faenor Firemindposted 12 years ago

   I read broadly, focusing on the styles and studying them, but when I write I just write. What comes out, often, is a nice fusion of styles, but one that feels genuine as opposed to contrived or forced. At least, that is what I think I am doing...
   I suppose, though, that if I had to pick a writer's style that I most wanted to fold into my own writing, it would have to be a combination of Roger Zelazny, Glen Cook, Robert Jordan and Neil Stephenson. Zelazny was adventurous in his use of language, Cook is a master in his ability to generate powerful imagery in the mind of his readers in few words, Jordan was gifted in bold prose and the evoking of strong emotion, and Stephenson has a devil-may-care approach to novel structure and narrative flow.
   Sorry to copy you, somewhat, MS, but I could not pick one.

   replyreport
4. 80

   gregasposted 12 years ago

   I don't read enough to mulat anone elses style. When I write, it's just me, nobody else. Greg

   replyreport
5. 60

   Jennifer Orcuttposted 12 years ago

   Even though my own inspiration to write derives from within, there are many musical artists out there who I feel I can relate to when it comes to their lyrics, music, and the emotion in which their words are carried out. I love artists and bands like Evanescence, Alanis Morissette, Within Temptation, and many others. When I lose that inner inspiration, sometimes just listening to them helps me to find the words I need to express myself. Not sure if that answers your question, but it was a good question anyways!

   replyreport
6. 58

   Hubpage Galposted 12 years ago

   I do not think that authors or artists should emulate each other.  There is a proper way of writing with all kinds of techniques depending on the message that the writer wants to purport.  However, one has to be careful about  being a plagiarizer when "emulating" someone else writing. Once you started talking, I understood your question further.  Writers can inspire other writers but they still got to be careful about the plagiarizer factor.

   replyreport
7. 63

   Craig Suitsposted 12 years ago

   Same here...I write for myself but occationally, I find myself emulating other people and events because lets face it, anything any of us writes is pulled from each of our minds which is simply a collection of past events, people, and knowledge other people and events have given us over the years. Without this package of past knowledge, our minds would have very little to write about.

   replyreport
8. 71

   Eric Pradoposted 12 years ago

   I try to emulate the writing style of Alex Sanchez. He has a way of engaging the reader and really  relating to the broadest demographic and has a way of moving them emotionally.

   replyreport
9. 60

   Marturionposted 12 years ago

   Now, you just KNOW that no writer is going to openly admit that they emulate anyone, and for good reason.  But, even the most stubborn of us must admit to drawing inspiration from somewhere.  For myself, I know that my literary voice has definitely been influenced by some terrific authors, both past and present.  I owe a lot to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Hemmingway, Thornton Wilder, and C.S. Lewis.  I also give a grateful nod to modern day greats, such as Jim Butcher, James Rollins, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, and Clive Cussler.

   replyreport
10. 59

    MarkRFoxposted 12 years ago

    Dan Brown. I just finished my first novel titled VERY LUCKY, of which I have posted a small excerpt here on this site. I like how he intertwines real historical people and places with his own fictional writing. I also like the idea of writing much shorter chapters, but producing close to, or slightly more than, 100 chapters in a novel. I also like his character development. My story is actually based on an untold true story and I feel that it will become a best seller as well as make a great movie based on feedback of those I have told this unbelievable story to.
    
    To the person who said emulating is plagiarism, that is absolutely not true. Plagiarism is using another person's thoughts or ideas or directly copying their work. Simply being inspired by a particular writing style is absolutely not that. I have to completely disagree with that inaccurate statement.
    
    Thanks for the question.

    replyreport