Influences: A Snapshot & Variety

Unless you are an artist suffering from a hefty dose of denial, you cannot honestly say that you have no influences. None of us can.

As walking, talking, listening human beings, our brains are essentially super-fancy sieves. We ingest the physical and metaphysical and express it in everything we do –everything.

The idea of influences has been on my mind quite a lot lately, so I decided I wanted to give myself a bit of an analysis. I can’t simply write down a list of writers I admire because I’m influenced by so much more than that. Media is all around us and it bombards our senses on a regular basis. I’m not going to go too in-depth because I know my list is going to get long.

I can’t believe how hard it is to share this list, not merely create it. I feel like I’m letting people into a part of me I like to keep to myself. So I do ask that if you strongly dislike a person on my list, please feel free to say so, but don’t discount what their work has done for me personally. I fully acknowledge that there are some less than stellar human beings on my list. No one is perfect. I may not agree with many of the following people’s philosophies, but their work has done a lot for me.

Margaret Atwood, because how could I not list her when I talk about her all the time? She’s my proof positive that I can write a feminist manifesto body of work and still stay true to my speculative nature –and be relevant to a widespread culture.

Marshall Mathers, (yes, Eminem), because he’s shown me that I can express my personal rage and still have an audience, that I won’t be fated to yell into the void without listeners.

Beyoncé, because if Eminem is proof that I can be mad, Beyoncé reassures me that I can be a mad woman and not be written off as just a shrill bitch.

Chuck Palahniuk, because there are ugly things in life that need to be written about, but they can be done so artistically, beautifully, absurdly, humorously, and compellingly.

All the romance and “genre” writers I adore, (JR Ward, Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Larissa Ione, and all the others I’m forgetting), because they consistently show the world that regardless of subject matter, characters, world, premise –you can talk about important things and positively impact the lives of readers.

Prince, because an artist should always stay true to themselves and the essence of their artistic expression.

Oscar Wilde, because it’s important to challenge people’s perceptions of everything.

Shakespeare, because language is damn beautiful and intricate and we should celebrate that.

Jane Austen and the three Brönte sisters, because early on they highlighted for the world the fact that womens’ stories matter to everyone.

Donald P. Bellisario, Dick Wolf, and Anthony E. Zuiker, the creators of the three major cop shoes I’ve devoured since I started watching TV, because through their shows I’ve learned that real and fictional heroes are rarely black and white, because even the best guys and gals are still imperfect humans. And humour is an acceptable response to horror if that’s how you cope. I really wish a woman was part of this list though!

Bewitched and I Dream of Genie, because they will always be my first hints of magic in the real world away from the touch of Disney.

Kelley Armstrong and Lyndsey Sands, because they showed me that I can write horror and paranormal romances stories set in Canada and people will read them!

I’m missing a lot of important entities but I think I made my point. You don’t have to read the “best” books by the “best” writers to learn and grow. Influences are everywhere, and I think some of the best are the ones that pique our interest because we don’t wholeheartedly agree.

What are some of your favourite influences?

P.S.: Today marks Canada Day! If ever there was a better example of a country with a foundation oozing with a multitude of influences, I don’t know if my lovely homeland can be beat!

*Featured image: sieving by Brian Evans via Flickr

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