I thought that for this week’s Thursday’s Children I would write a short piece on how books I’ve read have inspired my writing. I can’t remember if I’ve covered this ground before but I’m gonna go with it anyway!
I’ve read a lot of books in my life – a lot. But some have been more inspiring to me than others. When I was growing up I read voraciously. Some of my happiest reading memories are of walking around the corner from my family’s house to the mobile library. It was a sort of truck which contained a library inside – it was fantastic. I would go there with my mum and we’d choose books together for me to read. It was so much fun.
One of my favourite series of books was Anne of Green Gables. I loved those books so much as well as the TV series. They were fantastic. I really identified with Anne in all her troubles. OK so I’ve never dyed my hair green or found a mouse in a cooking sauce! But as a character, I found her sympathetic and I could visualise myself in some of the situations she found herself in.
I guess I can’t say that one single book I read as a child influences my writing today. But I do think that those books which, like Anne of Green Gables, had characters I could empathise with are the ones that really do have a bearing on what I write today. The stories where the MC is struggling, having to face people who may taunt them, having to deal with their insecurity or lack of self esteem.
Those are the kind of stories which have stayed with me, which have stayed in my mind long after I’ve read the final chapter. A story such as Jane Eyre, where the heroine survives against all odds or another survivor such as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. And they are the kind of story I’d love to be able to write, one that is memorable and stays in the mind of the reader for a long time after they’ve finished reading it.
If you would like to take part in Thursday’s Children, simply write on your blog about what inspires your writing. Then add your name to this linky. Thanks as always to Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez for hosting.
Elaine Jeremiah 
I’m with you. I love strong heroines like Jane Eyre and Lisbeth. I hope to someday create a heroine as compelling.
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Thanks Mia. I guess it’s easier said than done though isn’t it?
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I’m with you on Lisbeth Salander being a strong heroine – I devoured all three of those books. I’m always inspired by books whether it’s because of the story, characters, setting, beautiful writing, or hopefully all four of them!
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I agree with you there Kate. I devoured those 3 books as well. They were fab, weren’t they and so exciting. š
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Love this! You got me thinking about all the books/authors that have inspired MY writing! Most recently: Raymond Chandler. Good old-fashioned hardboiled detective stories!
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Thanks Laura. Glad I got you thinking. I’ve heard of Raymond Chandler but I don’t know any of his work. I’m guessing he’s an American author? I’m English so that’s my excuse for being a bit ignorant!! š
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Haha! Yeah, he was an American author back in the 1930s. He wrote The Big Sleep, both my favorite book and movie EVER. Highly recommend his work!
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I’ll have to check him out. Have a fab weekend. š
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Anne of Green Gables… it’s been so long since I thought of her. She was definitely one of my favourites growing up.
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I was addicted to Anne of Green Gables growing up. I read all the books and I absolutely LOVED the Megan Followes TV mini series – I couldn’t get enough!
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Great post. Classics like Anne… & Jane Eyre are among my all time favorites, too. They stay close to my heart no matter what else I’m reading.
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Thanks Debbie. You’re right – great books do stay with you always. If only I could write a book like that…
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I loved Anne of Green Gables too! (Of course, anyone who knows me cannot be surprised by this, as I basically AM Anne–prone to long fits of wry introspection and descriptive hyperbole.) Sometimes though, I worry about “kids today” and whether or not they’ll get to enjoy/live in the book world as much as we did.
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I very much hope that in generations to come children and young people will still be reading and enthusiastic about books. It’s so important, especially for writers to learn from books they’ve read.
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I love Anne of Green Gables. When I was a kid, I was inspired by A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Then I discovered books like Bronte’s Jane Eyre. In college, I was into Jane Austen’s books.
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Oh I love Jane Austen’s books too – I’m a massive fan!
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Great post. I’m all about kickass heroines. Did you ever watch the Avonlea tv series in the 80s by any chance?
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Thanks Kristina. I think I did watch some of it when it was repeated in the 90s – I was a bit young to watch it in the 80s. š I loved the original adaptations more though.
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