Literary blinders - A question for writers?

Question

Does anyone else worry about unintentionally and subconsciously mimicking other authors? I'm caught between reading anything I can get my paws on or burying my head in the sand to avoid tainting my imagination. I find that after reading a story, my writings and ideas tend to resemble the author's.

I wonder if I should read up until it's impossible to tell the individual influences apart when reading my scribbles or abstain from the library altogether.

Am I the only mimicosis sufferer?

Answer 1

I just finished writing a novel, and one of the first questions I asked was "tell me, does this sound like anyone?". I understand your frustration. For me, I wasn't influenced by any other author, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't worried. I have an idea for you which I used [I got the idea from the band MegaDeath of all places]...

See, MegaDeath during their recording and mixing of one of thier albums, told eachother in the band that no one was allowed to listen to any music whatsoever. They made a pact to not listen to their car radio while driving, not to go to clubs, ... not to go anywhere where there was music to listen to. They thought that if they heard any other music then their album would be tainted. Well, I used that same philosophy and decided to not read anything [except for the news]. I think it helped me keep my voice fresh.

It worked for MegaDeath and it worked for me. Hope it works for you......good luck.

Stay out of your library while writing unless you need research.

Answer 2

Not at all! I think all writers have felt this way at some point or another, if they're paying attention.

We're all shaped by what we read, watch, and experience, and it's only natural for that to emerge in our writing. I think that in time you refine away the foreignness from any "received" elements with your own imagination, inventiveness, style, etc., as that gets stronger.

I think the answer is actually the opposite of your instinct, however -- don't abstain from the library, but indulge in it to the point where you have so many (but chose them well!) influences that they wind up cancelling each other out, and ideas and a voice you can be confident are your own emerge. It's never a bad thing to learn from others, and the more you do the more it will smooth out the dominant influence of whatever you recently read..

Answer 3

Your imagination is more likely to be cluttered than contaminated. It's the ideas that count. The old story tellers like Aesop used just the bare bones of a story, and fleshed it out. It's a very practical way of sticking to your point, too. Do it that way and external sources don't have as much input.

There's nothing wrong with being influenced by a good writer. C.N. Parkinson, (Parkinsons Law) and Voltaire are two of my favorite writers, and it's because of their good use of language and storytelling.You can learn a lot from the writers who really appeal to you, so don't stop reading "on principle".

One word of ongoing advice; be more critical of whoever you read. Try looking at what's wrong with what you read, as well as what you like. Also, most importantly, see if you can spot their influences.

Answer 4

I love James Joyce however I can sympathize in which others would now not have the equal view. I suggestion Portrait used to be plenty larger than Ulysses. I individually believe Finnegan's Wake used to be simply him making certain individuals certainly not stopped attempting to determine what he used to be speakme approximately and did not truthfully imply some thing. First: F. Scott Fitzgerald and that is all I'm gonna say approximately him. Things Fall Apart through Chinua Achebe simply bugged me. It had one of the crucial stupidest man or woman within the complete global and the publication used to be simply so dull. Shakespeare may be overvalued. Romeo and Juliet is cliche, and I are aware of it is the long-established cliche however that simply does not give up me from hating it. But I do like a few of his different works. Finally, William Golding makes use of symbolism very good... Can't increase characters, a plot, or rather write in any respect... But he makes use of symbolism very good.

Answer 5

Nope. When I'm writing, I don't read anything vaguely close to my style. I'll read stuff that's nowhere near it, which doesn't give me any problems, but if the style--or, for that matter, the subject matter--is close, I find myself sounding that way.

What's helped me is to look at my thought patterns. If I can identify that the way I am actually thinking right now doesn't sound like me, but like someone else identifiable, I know I need to "clear the palate" before trying to write anything.

Answer 6

I understand where you are coming from. Yet, I find that I don't lose my own style if I allow myself to be influenced by other writers. On the contrary, I find it incredibly enriching. If you feel that it's too much like another's work, have some of your peers review your piece. If they think it is too close, try editing it. Just some random ideas.

Answer 7

No. That makes two of us...!