Comments on: Writing Excuses 4.3: How to Manage Your Influences

By: K. Bill Albrecht

K. Bill Albrecht — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:59:36 +0000

I have also wondered about that.

By: Ray

Ray — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 23:25:50 +0000

Does anyone know who the writer they almost mention is? (The one who decided to try to write fantasy after only having read Tolkien and it was a disaster.)

By: Writing Excuses 4.18: How to Steal for Fun and Profit » Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses 4.18: How to Steal for Fun and Profit » Writing Excuses — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:58:19 +0000

[...] here at Writing Excuses have talked about the Anxiety of Influence before, we’ve discussed genre-blending, and we’ve talked about where ideas come from. [...]

By: Josi

Josi — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:37:26 +0000

This was my first podcast–I know, I know, I’m a little late in the game. I absolutely loved it, however, and it won’t be my last. Keep up the good work, boys. Much appreciated.

By: Olin

Olin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:36:18 +0000

Gord Vidal wrote, in one of his essays, “Write what you know will always be excellent advice for those who ought not to write at all … “

By: Jim Williams

Jim Williams — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:40:29 +0000

In regards to managing your influences, I believe that it is a good idea for a seasoned pro to be very careful and not to be drawn in by their influences to much. But for the newbie, being influenced by great works is not a bad thing while you’re learning. What kid when given their first guitar for their birthday doesn’t start out by learning to play their favorite songs before they start writing their own? I thought writing should be no different and to some extent it isn’t.

Studying books that influenced me, taught me a lot about writing. I would break them down line by line until I understood how a particular author did his/her magic. Next I would take a book that influenced me and read a chapter, then write a chapter that was similar in length but with my own characters and a slightly different plot. I basically did this to help me break out of my Chapter One cycle as I was one of the perpetual chapter one writers for a long time. Also doing this helped me to develop a better sense of pacing and how to fill a chapter with fluff while keeping it interesting as so many great authors do. I no longer need to do this, but it was a great help to me.

The moral of the story boys and girls is don’t be afraid to study your influences to understand why they influenced you in the first place and try to learn something from them.

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:09:31 +0000

Avoid influence eh? So…does that mean that I should not listen to Writing Excuses any-more…?

By: Spudd86

Spudd86 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:50:12 +0000

I don’t find Howard’s footnotes all that Pratchettesque…

Both are awesome however

By: Mike Barker

Mike Barker — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:00:51 +0000

and for those who prefer text influences, a transcript…

http://mbarker.livejournal.com/132173.html

By: Matthew Watkins

Matthew Watkins — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:08:16 +0000

I have a huge problem with this. I watch a movie, and then I say “I want to write that!!” So, this episode was especially helpful to me. I have noticed that I have this problem, so my solution has been to deliberately pick things that will help what I am currently writing.