Writing like... yourself !

by Mehdi Kasbel
16th October 2013

Sure, I think it's harder than one could imagine

I have been influenced by so many authors, that I find myself trying to imitate, to copy, to write like !

And it, naturally, won't work, and will lead you to disppointment !

Maybe you have to pass through this before you forge your own style, freed from this tendancy of mimesis !

I would like to know your opinion about it !

Replies

Hi Mehdi,

Renee is spot on. Everything we do is influenced by the things we have learnt in life. Sometimes we say and do things we may have seen on TV or heard someone say and we know we are doing it. Sometimes it comes from our subconscious mind.

Trying to find something original in today's world is hard... J.K Rowling's Harry Potter, boy wizard with an owl 1991. Go back to the 80 and you will find a book called Larry Potter, another boy wizard with yes you guessed it an owl.

Is J.K. Rowling a one off ??? No she has been influenced by other writers just like us she picked up things from other writers and we will all do the same.

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damien
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damien Isaak
17/10/2013

Tricky one. Everything we've heard, seen, felt, smelt or touched makes up all we 'know'. All these experiences made us who we are now. Surely we can't write outside that scope? Can we ever be original when we write or do we just write a new version of something old?

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17/10/2013