Consuming Influences

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Everything we experience affects us in some way. Being conscious and mindful of those influences can help shape who we are, both as writers and as people.

Some writers say they can look back over their early works and tell what they were reading at the time because the influence is so strong. I remember reading one writer – I think it was Neil Gaiman, but don’t quote me on that – who said that he avoids reading anything in the genre of his current story to avoid being influenced.

I had this conversation recently with a friend of mine who is hoping to direct a stage version of Gatsby later this year. Of course, I’ll be auditioning for her if she gets the green light. She was hesitant to recommend the movies because she worried about them coloring my interpretation of the characters. (Yes, ok, the book was assigned in a high school English class, but it put me to sleep and I’m fairly sure I never finished it.)

But I love immersing myself in different visions, and I think my versions of the characters were stronger for it. When I first experience a thing, I have only a narrow understanding. That view expands over time as I learn, becoming more nuanced and complex, but exposure to other interpretations shortens the time considerably and helps me to notice details I might otherwise miss.

I do that with my stories. Sometimes I’ll have an idea for a story in a sub-genre I’m not as familiar with. Then, rather than avoid it for fear of its influence, I track down as much as I can get my hands on.

Several story ideas set in Maine have dark, spooky atmospheres that remind me of the one Stephen King story I’ve ever read (it was a short story, and of course I can’t remember the name of it, but it has stuck with me). Before I tackle any of them, I want to read more of his work to study how he creates that atmosphere.

In this case, I am actively seeking that influence, but I will choose how I use that and how it affects the story. The danger lies in that influences are often unconscious and being mindful of them is often easier said than done.

Awareness is half the battle, right?

This is not one-size-fits-all. What have you found that works (or doesn’t work) for you?

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