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Words That Inspire
On my blog, I have posted about movies that inspired me to write. Today I post about books that inspired me to write...
A couple of years ago, around the time I had decided on the plot, setting, and theme of The Dragon Forest II, I realized I needed some inspiration for writing prison scenes.
I came upon this book, The Count of Monte Cristo, and found it most helpful for writing the prison scenes, but also it was most helpful with writing the scenes involving conflict and change my story lacked.
My hero, Peter, must undergo extreme changes that occur from experiencing a horrific trial that no mother or father would ever want their child to endure. I found this book most helpful with this task. Dumas writes about the anger, frustration, and sorrow his protagonists deals with along with the powerful feelings of revenge that drive him and keep him alive in that prison setting.
I learned how to input those exact feelings into my story a couple of years ago when I read this book. Dumas left me appreciating language all the more when I put his book down. I became a fan after that experience!
I didn't read much as a child. When I did pick up a book, it was usually a history book, a book about horses (I loved to draw horses!), or a science book.
Every once in awhile, I would pick up a book of fiction to read. One day, I read a book about King Arthur. I was forever hooked on the legend!
When I decided to write my own book series, I knew I would write about castles, knights, kings, and sword fights all because of the impact this book had on my imagination as a child. My own series deals with a noble King struggling to keep his kingdom from falling into the enemy's hands while dealing with betrayal among his own friends.
I feel this book has given me the most inspiration to write a story than any other.
Finally, the story of Joseph in the Bible also inspired me to write.
I, like most Christians, had read this story and heard this story numerous times ever since I was a child in Sunday School class.
But it took writing a story about a young boy innocently thrown into prison, to open my eyes to the precepts in this book. I needed help in writing about what emotions a person innocent of all charges would feel if suddenly placed in prison, and this book revealed a young man who served his time well. He served with honor and obedience. He served in such a way that the Lord remembered him.
Wow. How many of us could do this if we found ourselves unjustly accused and thrown in prison?
Joseph's story also helped me write about how it is futile to sit in a prison cell and plan out revenge on those who wrongfully imprisoned you, as the protagonist in Count of Monte Cristo did. Instead, I thought about Joseph's hope and how that got him through this trial.
And how God rewarded him.
Well, these are the three books that have inspired me to write. I have read many more through the years, but as I look back, these three came to my mind over and over again.
Emerson was correct. To write creatively requires reading creatively. Now I read outside my comfort zone of non-fiction and I have found so much inspiration this way!
Your turn: What books have inspired you to become the writer you are today?
Blessings,
Ruth
The books that most inspired me to write were C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. I was in about third grade when I discovered them, and I was immediately enchanted. I loved the characters and the fantasy world, but I also loved the way the allegory stretched my mind. I had to figure out what was meant by the stories, and just how they connected with my own life and faith. That serves as a reminder to me that you should never talk or write down to a child. They are often capable of so much more than we give them credit for.
ReplyDeleteI read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to Nathan years ago and I fell in love with the story! As I read, I could visualize everything. I think that's why I love the movies. They captured my imagination perfectly.
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