Some authors really inspire me..
They inspire me to write, but also…to just be marvellous. Their books make my braincells explode with the inspiration of the century and just, um, excuse me while I flail dramatically forever. Authors are my heroes.
Some authors inspire me extraordinary amounts. I literally slam their books shut and think, “I would sell my left ankle to write like that.”
So WHO exactly inspires you, Cait?!
Oh goodie. I’m so pleased you asked, my flammable friends. Because I have a glorious list of authors who’ve inspired me marvellous amounts.
Maggie Stiefvater
Of course she’s at the top of the list. (And WAIT! Before you roll your eyes at me, I do promise I don’t spend 89% of my blogging paying hommage to Maggie Stiefvater. I blog about other stuff too…like…um…other stuff.)
She is my ultimate authorly hero and inspires me with every. single. book she ever writes. (I have read them all by the way. Yup. I’m that kind of fan.) I want to write beautiful characters and stupendous friendships and rich settings. I want to write out-of-the-box. I want to be a fierce artist.
A.G. Howard
Naturally the creator of the infamous moth, Morpheus, inspires me. Basically to write creepily and lavishly. AG Howard’s worlds are completely INSANE. So yes, she did a retelling of Alice in Wonderland so of course everyone in there is a little nuts, but she let her characters bleed. I admire this.
She is also the nicest person online. If I ever become a professional author, I want to be like AG Howard when I’m on twitter and talking to people. She loves her fans. SHE IS SO NICE.
I’m sure AG Howard would offer people blueberries of niceness.
Suzanne Collins
Ultimately this author got me into writing present tense. Actually, let’s see what else we can blame on Suzanne Collins, eh?
- Got me addicted to my first trilogy
- Made me try present tense (which I love and haven’t stopped in 3 years of writing)
- Had me fall in love with sparse description and short, jaggy sentences
- Made me realise villains need to be complicated
- Made me read 489205 YA books afterwards
Basically The Hunger Games was my first “WOAH THIS IS WHAT READING IS ABOUT” moment. I was addicted to YA after this.
Cassandra Clare
I haven’t always loved paranormal. How weird is that?! Picture a time where I wore fluorescent gumboots and only read Historical Fiction. (I don’t regret those days at all, though the gumboots were actually too small and hurt but I would not give them up.) When I discovered paranormal, the world basically pulled out trumpets and blasted, “ALERT! ALERT! CAIT HAS FOUND HER NICHE!”
I love psycho angels and weird faeries and vegetarian vampires and lonely monsters and kind werewolves. I LOVE IT ALL. When I read Cassandra Clare’s 6 book series on Shadowhunters, my little heart kind of broke because I realised, “I want to write something epic and long and complex like this too, someday.”
Jandy Nelson
This is a very very new addition to my WOAH THESE AUTHORS ROCK list. (It’s a real list, believe me. I have sticky notes to prove it.) I read I’ll Give You the Sun and it kind of did something to my soul. Basically smacked me in the face and said “GO ART! GO BE AMAZING! RULE THE WORLD!” Reading Jandy Nelson’s work made me want to write incredibly poignant stories. It made me drunk on art.
I never thought you could write art. But you can.
Holly Black
Basically she mixed my favourite things, crimey thriller and paranormal, and ‘scuse me, but I need to read every Holly Black book ever written (I’ve read 9 so far, okay?! I’m working on this!) She writes in 3rd person a lot and I love this. I always thought 3rd person made the reader detached to the characters, but nope. I can wholeheartedly assure you I was 100% invested in The Darkest Part of the Forest and The Coldest Girl in Downtown.
(Also her titles are epic. Also she writes freaky faeries. Also psychotic vampires.)
Sarah J Maas
I used to think that “good fantasy” meant it had to rub elbows with Tolkien’s style. Long, complex sentences, and soliloquies, and two thousand plot lines. (Help.) I used to be a 99% fantasy-writer and I quit because HOW CAN I DO WHAT TOLKIEN DID AND BE FAMOUS? Well. Sarah J Maas writes the best fantasy I have ever read. And it’s funny and brisk and there’s beautiful clothes and chocolate and it’s nothing at all like Tolkien.
I’m not saying Tolkien is bad! I’m saying THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS! A person can write fantasy any way they want. So thank you, Sarah J Maas. (Although also, she kind of ruined me because her writing is the best and it’s torture to wait between books.)
Michael Grant
I think I’ve read, um…11 of his books. (This is coming from the girl who never ever finishes series.)THIS IS A LOT! You might consider me addicted. And I will raise my hand and confess: it is true. I will read anything this dude writes. Why? I love his style. I love that he’s not afraid to handle copious amounts of characters (and succeeds!) and how he writes weird and wacky and creepy things (another of my ultimate ambitions) and how he not only hurts his characters, H
E DESTROYS THEM. His writing is perfect.
Sally Green
LAST! I promise! I won’t list all my 
most inspiring authors forever. When I read Half Bad last year, I had a small oxygen deficiency because she wrote in a similar style and about a similar topic to me. I FELT CONNECTED. It was like someone, who wrote 1000x better than me, taking my deepest ideas and pulling it off with perfection. (Yeah, I might’ve been slightly jealous…but I’m too busy flailing and fangirling now.)
There are other authors I love an insurmountable amount, like Elizabeth Wein, Markus Zusak, Pierce Brown, Neil Gaiman, John Green, Marissa Meyer, Patrick Ness, Matthew Quick, and Veronica Roth. I want to talk about them all but I WILL REFRAIN.
These authors inspire me to write and art and be fabulous. I don’t want to copy them. I want to be inspired by them.
so, my blue blogglings, who inspires you?! which authors speak to your writing soul? and if you’re not a writer…which authors leave you clutching a book and wanting to do something amazing?? and while we’re talking about inspiring heroes…ASIDE FROM AUTHORS…who inspires you??
Cait has a lot of favourites, but PLEASE, she can’t be expected to make awfully tough decisions like picking between epic heroes. Just…no. She can be expected, however, to be thinking about chocolate. Editing writing = needing chocolate. Currently she’s reading ALL FALL DOWN by Ally Carter.
…Hm…I don’t really get inspired unless I read something I really dislike and then I think “COME ON GIRL, YOU CAN DO BETTER THEN THIS!” 😉 And then I prove myself wrong. Epically, disastrously wrong.
I actually blame Charlotte Bronte (no idea how to do the accent in the comment box…) for the fact that I’m still working on my contemporary – I’m actually an urban fantasy kind of girl at heart but, when I read Jane Eyre, I learnt so much about writing and I realised that I should stick with my most original idea to date, even if I do have a love/hate relationship of epic proportions with it. I didn’t necessarily like Jane Eyre when I was reading it, but oh my God it breaks all of the so-called rules 😉
I’m kind of in favourite author limbo (totally a thing) at the minute. Before, I’d always have said that Rick Riordan was my favourite writer, but I’m kind of unsure as to whether I should pick up his Norse series or not. I love Joanne Harris’ mythical fantasy – and that’s Norse too – so I’m worried I’ll spend too much time comparing them and not enough time enjoying the book. Current reading goal: To read every Maggie Stiefvater book ever. Also, to get my hands on some more Ally Carter (probably Heist Society).
I highly approve of your current goal to read every Maggie Stiefvater book EVER of course, of course. I think I have…except her kiddie one and I THINK she wrote in an anthology and I haven't read that either. >.> BUT OTHERWISE ALL THE STIEFVATER. Heist Society is really very good. x)
OOH I WAS TOTALLY GOING TO WRITE A SIMILAR POST TO THIS. YOU READ MY MIND 😀 Hunger Games to you is like what John Green novels were for me haha 🙂 and now look at us, writing away.
ALSO YOU SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY NEED TO READ ACOTAR. LIKE YOU KNOW THAT I’M A CONTEMPORARY PERSON AND NOT A HUGE FAN OF FANTASY AND I DIDN’T LIKE THRONE OF GLASS THAT MUCH BUT HOLY HELL ACOTAR WAS GOOD.
I REALLY WANT TO READ YOUR VERSION OF THIS. Pleeeease still do it. xDErmagerd, I'm so terrified of ACOTAR. I was having an entire meltdown the other day because I'm 100% sure my ship in ToG is going to sink and I was just so done. -_- HOW CAN I WAIT FOR LIKE 4 OR SO MORE YEARS TO FINISH THE TOG SERIES?! I'M IN PAIN. At least ACOTAR is only a trilogy.
DID YOU KNOW MAGGIE STIEFVATER’S FIRST NAME WAS ACTUALLY ‘HEIDI’ BUT SHE CHANGED IT TO MARGARET WHEN SHE TURNED 16?! And Cassandra Clare is actually a pen name for Juliet somethingorrather!! I SWEAR Wikipedia is the BEST thing on this earth. It holds THE MOST marvellous information, I swear xD
Jandy Nelson! I swear that women BLEEDS beautiful. I’ll Give You the Sun was so unforgivably beautiful URGH I CAN’T EVEN. XO
A.G. Howard! I LOVED Splintered, but I’m finding Unhinged SOOOO hard. I want to give up. I think I deserve cake.
Sally Green! I regret not taking your advice and reading Half Bad sooner, BUT I’M HOOKED NOW SO DON’T WORRY. Half Wild is waiting on my kindle and I. Can’t. WAIT.
SARAH J. MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS. That women is like MY personal hero of all time!! AND HAVE YOU STARTED ACOTAR YET CAIT?!?!?!?! Seeeeeriously, Queenie, IT SO GOOOOOOD. It blows Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire, out of the water a thousand fold. *whacks you with book* BUMP OT UP YOUR LIST SOON OR I WILL EXPLODE.
I love that we share so many favourite authors!! 😀 😀 😀 We have amazing taste 😛
Do you think I could write up my own list of authory heros on my blog?? I’d link back to you of course!
YES YES I DID KNOW THAT. I slightly wonder why the heck anyone would change their name to Maragret, but um, whatever. >.> Also YES! I knew that about Cassandra Clare too! Her real last name is rather voluminous isn't it?!Gah, yes, to Jandy Nelson. I need The Sky is Everything quite quite badly.AFJDKLAFDS I AM SO GLAD YOU LIKE HALF BAD. Like literally nooooo one I know likes it (okay, fine, maybe 5 people like it?!) and I'm literally dying for Half Wild. DYING I TELL YOU. YES! DO IT! Totally write a post!
Ahh… one of my new faves, Maggie the Magnificent! A.G. was my first (not irl friends) author interaction, so she will always be special to me. Joe Kipling the British author of Blinded by The Light was a fellow member of the Harry Potter social site MyLeaky and we have become even better friends since I read her book. And my sweetness A. Lynden Rolland with her close to my heart book Of Breakable Things. And, of course the venerable JKR! I guess I would include most any good author who doesn’t gave a Lit or Writing Arts degree because I only have non-applicable Music and Media Arts degrees; they prove you don’t need a related degree to get published. Oh, and I can’t forget Sherri L. Smith who wrote a kick butt Dystopian, Orleans, with NO ROMANCE and a male/female no sexual tension best friendship!
THESE ARE SUCH FABULOUS AUTHORS. But honest, I hadn't heard of Sherri Smith before and THAT description just sold me 1000%. *runs wildly to google*
Orleans also was written by an author of color and the MC is a POC.
I”M GOING TO FANGIRL RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE SARAH J MAAS IS GOING TO BE IN AUSTRALIA IN NOVEMBER WE GET TO MEET HER AAAAHHH!!!
Sorry bout that, but my brain has not calmed down since I read the news 4 hours ago. I do look up a to authors, but maybe not as much as I used to because I don’t write as much anymore (as much as I wish I did. Uni makes it hard to find free time sjkhdsdakf). The authors I wish I wrote like include Sarah J Maas, Melina Marchetta, Maggie Stiefvater, and many others who make me have extreme feels over their stories.
While I don’t look up much to authors anymore, their characters inspire me A LOT. There’s characters in there I can relate to a LOT (eg Sydney Sage from Bloodlines) and characters I wish I was more like (Celaena Sardothien). I’m not into many tv shows or anything so book characters replace the actors and sport stars that would be a typical role model.
As soon as I saw the title, I new Maggie Stiefvater would be at the top of this list. Well deserved though, I love how she blends the paranormal and the normal to create a world where weird things happening seems perfectly normal.
I wish I had the world building skills of Marie Lu. I wish I could write crime novels as compex and gripping as Karin Slaughter. I wish I could create friendships and books as downright awesome as our bookish saviour, J K Rowling.
I also blame Suzanne Collins for my reading obsession. I used to always read as a kid but when school and exams got in the way I stopped and THG pulled me back into reading voraciously.
You know me too well. 😉 Erk! YES! I love how she does paranormal. And her writing is just drop-dead beautiful. Gah! SO FREAKING TALENTED. *ahem*I blame Suzanne Collins for everything. I think she's highly blameable.
I really like your list. I do.
But, tbh, you didn’t mention my biggest inspiration, which happens to be David Levithan. I love his style and his plot lines and everything and his books make me cry because of the thoughfulness and beauty behind them.
Oh, and of course JK Rowling, because she’s amazing and I love her work and her twitter and her everything. She also made me realise that writing helps a lot to deal with everything.
And I have to mention (unfortunately forgot his first name) N. (?) Vizzini. His It’s Kind of a Funny Story is a fantastic book and he, again, showed me how amazingly people can write their own story.
A happy ending,
Nadja 🙂
YAY!. This pleases me. ^_^ I actually, um, *coughs* haven't read David Leviathan. I KNOW! Shame on me! Well I read Will Grayson and so I've read half a Leviathan…but I just haven't gotten around to him. :(Yes! Ned Vizzini! His book was so fantastic.
Funny… I never expected Maggie Stiefvater to be in this list 😛 joking aside, I agree with you. Authors ARE heroes. They create something out of nothing and it’s amazing. I think I have a similar list… I’d have to add J.K. Rowling because I’m currently reading the Harry Potter books and I have a huge love for them.
HA YEAH I SUPRISED YOU, AMIRITE?!! Heh. Yes. I'm utterly predictable. 😉
So many great authors on this list. Yes to Jandy Nelson. I’ll Give You The Sun rocked my world. Freaking amazing. And I LOVED Michael Grant’s Gone series. Man that guy has one powerful, vivid imagination. I would love to live inside his head. Ha. I also love Amy Harmon. Her book The Law of Moses was one of my favorite books last year. And Margaret Atwood is also one of my author heroes. I love her!
YAY A GONE FAN!! *flails like a raucous antelope* I literally never find fans so you and I must stick together on this one. Although I would NOT want to be inside his head. Oh gosh. Have you read BZRK? I'm still terrified.
Heck yeah to Stiefvater and Sarah J Maas! THEY ARE TOO AWESOME I JUST CAN’T. There writing is beyond amazing. And Sarah has such an epic imagination . . . like, how does she think of all of the different plots and how are her characters so wonderful? And Maggie made Gansey. So she wins at everything.
Would also add in Marissa Meyer because she has that fantasy / sci-fi mix DOWN. She has so many characters and yet they are ALL awesome. I don’t know how she does it. They’re all so unique and wonderful and I AM GUSHING AND BABBLING OVER HERE.
THEY JUST ARE. THEY ROCK ME WORLD. Errrrrk, that detail in all the Maas books. I mean, how how how. Oh the way Marissa Meyer balances characters is phenomenal. I'm in constant awe.
TERRY PRATCHETT. Seriously. The amount of continuity he has/had to keep track of in his writing is RIDICULOUS. And he drops so many truth bombs in his books. I love everything about it, basically. Also Tom Hiddleston because I’ve never seen him say a bad word about anyone, and I wish I could come close to being that kind to everyone ever.
I haven't read much Prachett but GOOD OMENS. OH GOSH. GOOD OMENS. I have never laughed and loved a book so hard.
Well…as smallish writer, I was really inspired by C.S. Lewis and Wayne Thomas Batson. I think Lewis is still my favorite author, just cause he’s awesome and Narnia is AMAZING. J. K. Rowling also really inspires. The word building in Harry Potter is incredible–like, it’s cozy and whimsical and so worth protecting from Voldemort and his cronies. And Snape…he’s just an amazing character.
Suzanne Collins!!! Yeeees!!! But I think I like her more for The Underland Chronicles. THE FEELS in that series.
Marissa Meyer is amazing. Nuff said.
Shannon Messenger is also one of my author heroes…if you preorder her books, she’ll mail you awesome swag!!! Like signed bookplates and art prints and bookmarks…basically, she’s really nice to her fans, even the far away ones.
Finally, the author who really inspires me is Anne Elisabeth Stengl. After reading one of her books, I feel like I’ve done more than read a book–her books are just so deep and well-crafted. And she is seriously one of the nicest people ever. 🙂
Yes, me too! I started writing because of CS Lewis. Although my style/content is nothing like that now, hehe, but I totally blame him. 😉 Ohhh I need to read the Underland Chronicles. I always feel bad that I say I'm a “Suzanne Collins fan” but I haven't even read one of her series! SHAME ON ME. I just need like 204190 more hours in my day.
THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL AUTHORS ON HERE, notably Sarah J. MAAS. I can’t believe she is coming to Australia *SQUEEEALS*. It’s the best feeling when you stumble upon a new book and realise, ahhh, here’s my genre. Great topic Cait!
I KNOW, RIGHT?! FKDALFDSFADSJKL. WILL YOU GO SEE HER?? I will have to demand you blog about it. I dare say I will not be in Brisbane. 🙁 *cries copiously*
BRANDON MULL.
BRANDON MULL IS MY HERO.
I WILL FOREVER SHOUT HIS NAME FROM THE ROOFTOPS UNTIL HE IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS GENIUS.
I want to shove his books at everyone and make people read them because MAGIC CANDY, DETACHABLE BODY PARTS, TV-OBSSESSED SATYRS, FOUNTAINS OF YOUTH, MAGIC SEED PEOPLE, SHAPE-SHIFTING UNICORNS GAAAAAAAAAH
I really really love his books.
GOOD THING YOU HAVE SHOUTED ABOUT HIM, BECAUSE I HAD NOT HEARD OF HIM AND NOW I SHALL LOOK HIM UP.
YES YES PLEASE, I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER IF YOU DO(not that I already didn’t but hey).
Oh me oh my. I have some serious reading to attend to. Your list had me feeling very… behind. Anyhow, they all sound lovely and I am looking forward to catching up.
Markus Zusak and Khaled Hossieni are my current favorites. Despite their cruelty and insistance on always making me cry like a baby, I feel that I walk away with a valuable lesson everytime I read their books.
Hehe, I do read a lot and I have trouble narrowing down a list of favourites, don't I?! Markus Zusak is amazing. I want to eat The Book Thief, basically. That book is so so beautiful.
YES BUT CAIT HAVE YOU READ THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE BY JANDY NELSON BECAUSE YOUR HEART WILL EXPLODE. [I really need to read I’ll Bring You the Sun though]..
OK. JUST A FEW BECAUSE OTHER YOU WILL GET A HUGE LIST:
J. K Rowling
Jandy Nelson
Elizabeth Wein
Ruta Sepetys
Lauren Child [not charlie and lola no..lol READ THE RUBY REDFORT SERIES PEASLE IT’S AWESOME]
Markus Zusak
Shannon Hale
Rainbow Rowell.
Emily Murdoch [if you’ve not read If You Find Me YOU REALLY SHOULD].
I'M GOING TO READ IT ASAP. I JUST HAVE SO MUCH TO READ RIGHT NOW AND I'M DROWNING A BIT IN BOOKS. BUT AFJDKALSD I KNOW I'M GOING TO LOVE IT. Elizabeth Wein. YES. But she always breaks my heart and stomps on it. ALWAYS.*whispers* I have not read If You Find Me. I really really want to though.
I has author heros! I has huge list. But … since I’m commenting on my tablet, I shall have to limit myself.
Jaye L. Knight. She’s an indie author who is a few steps ahead of me in her writing career, and her books are AMAZING. Brilliant characters and delicious worldbuilding. She’s also the author who taught me that fantasy doesn’t have to have magic. Novel concept, right?
Anne Elizabeth Stengl. I enjoyed thee first book of her series, but I’ve managed to read ALL her books in the past six months. Brilliant truths and stunning worldbuilding combine, and I’m addicted. She’s taught me that a series’s order doesn’t have to be chronological. I mean, I knew this, but wow. She pulls it off so brilliantly.
Bryan Davis. Christian fantasy set in the real world, with heaven and hell, and dragons. His books get weider as they go along, but they are brilliant.
Gail Carson Levine. Because she writes fairy tale retellings, and they are brilliant.
I had to limit myself too. 😉 THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY EXTRAORDINARY AUTHORS, RIGHT?! HA! Loving the sound of Jaye L Knight and Stengl. I seriously am considering picking up Stengl's book…
Maggie Stiefvater is definitely one of my authorly heroes! When I had first started The Raven Boys, I thought “I want to write like this”!
Besides Maggie…
Brandon Sanderson. He writes amazing epic fantasy.
J.R.R. Tolkien. Because he first made me love fantasy.
Jane Austen. I love Pride and Prejudice…
There are probably others. I just can’t think of them right now. XD
ME TOO. Every time I read her books I just end up thinking, “Omg, I need to write like this one day.” And I want to try Brandon Sanderson because I hear so many good things and afjdklsafd I need.
Holly Black! Holly Black all the way. The first book I read by her was Tithe and I haven’t looked back. She does fae and other paranormal creatures well. I honestly can’t read any other authors book on the same creatures because they just don’t add up to the way she writes them. She had ruined it for me!
I’m really into contemporary books. Either romance and mysteries/thrillers. So two authors who inspire me a lot is Ally Carter and Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I LOVE JLB.She went to Harvard for behavioral analysis and psychology and you can really see that inspiration in her books. Ally Carter is amazing! I met her last year and she was so sweet.
As far as romances go my girl Sarah Dessen is fantastic. Also Deborah Harkness. She’s a historian who writes about witches in fiction. She gives me hope as a historian to write more than the classic historical narrative.
I WANT TO READ TITHE! I'm actually eyeing off a second hand copy on sale right now and omg I'm desperate. She's such an incredible writer. Ally Carter is AMAZING. Every time I read one of her books I feel like it has the perfect dialogue for a movie. XD She's so funny!! omg, you met her?!! HOW LUCKY.
MAGGIE STIEFVATER IS ON MY LIST DEFINITELY BECAUSE I JUST FINISHED DREAM THIEVES AND I NEED HELPPPPPPPP. My feels are broken.
Suzanne Collins, too. We have very similar minds. xD
Authors that inspire me are probably…well, Pierce Brown, definitely, since he writes the kind of sci-fi epicness I myself try to write, and Neal Shusterman, for SCARING ME OUT OF MY WITS EVERY TIME AND BEING BRILLIANT. And Marissa Meyer, the queen of YA. xD
HA. I KNEW YOU WOULD SAY PIERCE BROWN AND NEAL SHUSTERMAN. I KNOW YOU. XXDXD
What a great post!! I just read Splintered this week and loved it so much! You’re right, AG Howard is a freaking genius! The only other two of these that I have read are Suzanne Collins (DUH) and Cassandra Clare, and I love both their books. A few of these authors are on my TBR (Holly Black, Sarah J Mass, Maggie Stiefvater) and I can’t wait to read them because everyone seems to love their books!
Isn't her description just delicious? Suzanne Collins feels like a given, right?! She totally started me on YA and I haven't stopped. XD Sarah J Freaking Talented Maas. XD
YES! My Top Ten Tuesday a few weeks ago was kinda like this, and of course Maggie Stiefvater appeared on my list. I also have Victor Hugo because the way he writes his characters is purely mindblowing (especially his villains).
Do you have a remarkably beautiful left ankle?
Oh and by the way – I FINALLY read your story on Wattpad and it was utterly splendid and I want more of it. 🙂
afjdkafdljk THANK YOU FOR READING IT.
OH WAS IT?! I feel like I need to track it down and spy on all your authorly heroes. 😉
Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favorite authors as well, I consider The Scorpio Races to be utter perfection and her writing style is just SO BEAUTIFUL!
I also really love Melissa Marr. I don’t always love all of her books right away but she writes such interesting and complex worlds with loveable characters and a general tone of creepiness which is just awesome.
I actually get a lot of inspiration from classics. When I’m working on a story idea somehow I always manage to pull an idea or writing format from a classic and I want to experiment with it. The Victorians had a very specific form of storytelling that I would like to try out.
It is totally 100% perfection. I cannot love The Raven Cycle more. AND LET'S JUST ALL ADMIT KNOW, BUT I NEEEED THE RAVEN KING LIKE I NEED AIR.*flails and dies*Also I've only read one Melissa Marr book but ohhh it was freakishly delicious. Her characters are incredible!
The writer who inspired me to write the way I do is Raymond Chandler, because I love the voices that he gives his characters and is basically the reason why I never write in the 3rd person. I prefer being able to create a distinctive voice that a character can use to describe things, and he does that so well, in my opinion, and he’s the one who inspired me to write. As for authors that leave me clutching a book, it’s definitely Scott Westerfeld. I still haven’t read all of his books (but I’m definitely getting onto it), but Uglies was the series that introduced me to YA and nearly every one of his books that I’ve read has just amazed me, gahhh.
I never used to write in 3rd person either….but Maggie Stiefvater and Neal Shusterman converted me. I MUST READ MORE SCOTT WESTERFELD. I've only read one book!
Veronica Roth would be one. Her writing, yes. The romance without a love triangle. But also, just the ending, okay? I know I”ve said it a million times, here’s a million and one. I think she’s brave. And honest. It’s the only ending, and sure the readers aren’t all happy. But the story wants to be writ, so you have to obey, right?
I do like A. G. Howard too. I didn’t like Splintered at first. But the characters felt real to me. I was literally arguing with them and glaring at them. I think this is why it took me a while to like it. In real life, I always have to warm up to people. Her writing is amazing, and the world building. Her world building is the best! The concepts and just- it’s genius. I need, need to read Unhinged.
I just finished The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. I am still in awe. Just, her plot. The main character. I can’t even articulate properly! I love her chapters. Everything is short, but so riveting. The chapters are each like a mini book with a cliffhanger at the end. I want to write like that.
I once had this English professor (he passed away last semester). He was just amazing. I like reading and I know a lot about English. But English itself is just boring. But he made it fun. He made it interesting. His love for what he did everyday, his enthusiasm was just so contagious. And you learned so much more than just English in Mr. Prim’s class. I’d sit there from 8a-9:20a and when I got out I felt like I had accomplished so much already and half the day wasn’t even over yet. And he explained things in a way that made sense. I think he was the best. He’s definitely one of my heroes.
VERONICA ROTH IS THE BRAVEST AUTHOR EVER. And I will agree with you 100% It is the only ending. It is the best ending. She did so so well.AG Howard just wins the universe, imo, because of her gorgeous world. I could see/hear/taste all of Wonderland and it was amazing. Also, probably, because she did justice to my favourite classic. 😉
I agree with almost all of these – they’re all so inspiring! I’d like to add Charlotte Bronte (‘coz she’s ma girrl) and, of course, the god of writing herself, J.K. Rowling.
Oh, and the fluorescent gum boots phase? I’m still in it. My work wellies are neon orange and beautiful (that’s acceptable when you work with children!)
Beth x
JK Rowling has the BEST humour. I laughed my head off reading the first Harry Potters! (And I WILL finish them soon. This year. I hope?!)I have not given up on the gumboots. But they're not black (with small flowers/hearts/pattern) and not quite, you know, neon. I miss those days of neon freedom.
I love all of the author love!
My inspirational author list is unfortunately pretty short. I need to meet/interact with more authors!
Sherrilyn Kenyon because I devoured her series in like a month. I was the biggest book pusher for her!
Neil Gaiman because he is Neil Gaiman. And he gives great hugs. He’s like a British Olaf, it’s great.
I need to read SOMETHING by Maggie. Clearly I’m missing out.
NEIL GAIMAN YES! I cannot laugh psychotically enough at Good Omens. It was totally the highlight of last year.*whispers* You're totally missing out. YOU MUST START STIEFVATER!
I adore Maggie Stiefvater, too!!! Her Scorpio Races is just utter perfection, gah! I also love Kristin Cashore, Rick Riordan, Kate DiCamillo, Philip Pullman, and Robin McKinley to name a few. Like you, Cait, I could talk about my favorite authors forever! J. K. Rowling got me into reading fearlessly, and Jeanne Birdsall is who inspired me to become a writer. Awesome post! Might have to do my own version! 😀
I will always flail for Puck and Sean…*commences flailing*Philip Pullman and Kate DiCamillio are geniuses.
This is absolutely lovely, Cait! YES TO SUZANNE COLLINS AND JANDY NELSON. And John Green because he has an exquisite writing style even though I didn’t like Tfios.
JK Rowling for me (is that a surprise?), Marie Rutkoski, Rick Riordan, Benjamin Alire Saenz and like a gajillion more.
HOW DOES JANDY NELSON WRITE SO BEAUTIFULLY?!! IT'S LIKE READING A PAINTING, OR SOMETHING. I love John Green, although I feel like his books are all quite similar. ;-)Omg Benjamin Alire Saenz. YES.
I only read Benjamin Alire once but, darn it, he’s brilliant! Also, I’m on board Team John Green. And let’s go demigods!
YES TO JANDY NELSON! When I read The Sky is Everywhere, I was so inspired by her, I thought to myself that one day I really hope I’ll be able to write something that impacts people as much as her book impacted me! Tahereh Mafi also inspires me to be a better writer. She’s so amazingly talented at writing and I hope that one day I’ll be able to write just as beautifully as her. Ooh! And Derek Landy, I love his humor, sarcasm and plot twists, his books inspire me to always try to be the best person I can be, as even though we’ve all done bad things, we can always choose to be a better person. Fantastic post, Cait! <3
I want to read the Sky Is Everywhere so so badly now after I finished I'll Give You The Sun. I literally just put down IGYTS and just screeched at the beautifulness. Tahereh Mafi is equally amazing. KENJI. Derek Landy, omg! I totally forgot him! I think that's because he's a newer favourite, although Jandy Nelson is a new favourite. Gah. *glares at self* I love Derek Landy too.
Okay, I have 3 things to say:
1. HOW IS IT THAT SARAH J. MAAS LOOKS LIKE EXACTLY LIKE A BLONDE KATNISS EVERDEEN??? HOW. DID. THIS. HAPPEN. O_____O
2. TOLKIEN IS FABULOUS OKAY. But I agree, fantasy can and should have other things. XD Every time I read Diana Wynne Jones I am amazed at her originality of fantasy and SHE INSPIRES ME. CAIT YOU NEED TO READ DIANA WYNNE JONES. I’M SERIOUS. HER BOOKS ARE AMAZING AND HILAAAARIOUS.
3. I READ RED GLOVE AND BLACK HEART. <3<3<3<3 I'M SO SO SO GLAD YOU GOT ME INTO THAT TRILOGY. I'm now pining away because as far as I know, nobody else writes crimey family magical conmen mafia contemporary fantasy thriller YA mysteries with snarky awesome heroes. *sobs forever* Aaand it wouldn't matter if they did, because nothing can match Cassel's snarkiness and the awesomeness of the magical gloveness and everything. Ahem. But Cait… I THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN ME ADDICTED TO CONTEMPORARY FANTASY. It's bad. o.o I JUST HAVE THIS URGE TO READ ALL THE MODERN FANTASY ON MY TO-READ LIST. Wut.
Awesome post! ^_^ (And great gifs as always. XD)
1. Sarah J Maas just looks like a writing goddess. IDEK. She's beautiful and has writing skills. It's completely unfair.2. TOLKIEN IS FABULOUS. He's a genius. But knowing there's other types of fantasy out there gives people with smaller brains, like me, lol, somewhere to aim.3. YOU ARE SO SO WELCOME. I want to blog about them, but I sent all the books back to the library and now I can't take pictures. haha. I shall get them back out because THEY ARE LIKE THE BEST TRILOGY OF MY LIFE. AND I'M TOTALLY OKAY WITH GETTING YOU INTO URBAN FANTASY. I TAKE THE BLAME. GO READ THESE MODERN FANTASIES. THE SCOPRIO RACES NEXT, YES??
Marissa Meyer is probably the author who inspires me the most. She’s the author who got me into fairy tale retellings. She also inspire me to just keep writing no matter what. And she is so nice! And I would know because, you know, I talked to her on the phone;P
Patrick Carmen also inspires me because he got me into the paranormal. I love horror movies, but he introduced me to the glory that is paranormal writing/reading!
And Ally Carter gets a special place because she taught me (through her Twitter posts) that writing is hard, but no matter how much you hate your book, the readers are going to think it’s betterXD And because her books are freaking awesome!
And Rober Liparulo has to make the list too because he introduced me to the idea that time travel doesn’t have to be a good thing and it doesn’t have to happen via machine. Also, he taught me the beauty (and torture) of THE WORST CLIFFHANGERS EVER!!!!!!!! I mean, seriously, the man ended a book with the good guys in the bad guy’s house. One was hiding in a closet, the other was facing the bad guy and about to die!! AND HE ENDED IT THERE!!!!!!!! Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if the man ended a book mid-sentence! Oh yeah, and me and my best friend e-mailed him and he emailed back!!;P
Marissa Meyer definitely got me into fairy tales too….and ohh Ally Carter is awesome on twitter. XD I don't always catch her tweets, but she's so down to earth. AND AWESOME. I need look up this Rober LIparulo dude…
Yes you do!!!!!! He is amazing-ness!!!!!!!!
Oh, I know what you mean! Carol Berg, Pierce Brown, Stephen R. Lawhead, C.J. Redwine, Sherwood Smith, and Maggie Stiefvater are definitely some of my favorite authors — I read their work and think ‘I want to do this’.
*hi fives for Maggie Stiefvater*
For me, two would be Lauren Oliver and Laini Taylor. When I read Before I Fall, I felt like crying at the end, but not because of what happened in the story. I felt like crying out of jealousy… because I can only ever aspire to write like Oliver does. And then I read the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy and was blown away by its epicness. I doubt I could ever come up with such a complex and amazing mythology, but Taylor made me want to try.
Interesting what you said about Suzanne Collins and the present tense. I think The Hunger Games was one of the first books written in present tense that I actually enjoyed. I’m generally not a fan… but the way Collins wrote the book, the tense kind of disappeared… which doesn’t always happen; some books almost slap you in the face with it.
Aaaah! (That’s a very weird impression of me squealing on the inside). JANDY NELSON IS AWESOME ISN’T SHE? She’s the author that made me make an “intoxicating” shelf on Goodreads because The Sky is Everywhere intoxicated me. SHE’S SO AWESOME ISN’T SHE?
Michael Grant also deserves a massive pat on the back 🙂 His Gone series was perfect reading. I probably am going to stay in YA Science Fiction (with an occasional smattering of Contemporary) but yes to all the paranormal authors. THEY’RE AWESOME.
SHE IS FREAKING AMAZING. I just…gah. I couldn't get over how complex and deep and arty I'll Give You the Sun is. I will die if I don't read The Sky Is Everywhere very very soon. 0_0
This is a wonderful post, Cait. A lot of my favorite authors are also role models to me such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Wein, Clare Vanderpool, Marissa Meyer, Markus Zusak, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and a TON of other writers. I’ve never read a book by Jandy Nelson or Maggie Stiefvater, but I love beautiful writing in books, so I think I might just have to read of their books. And of course I want to read Throne of Glass someday. I love Tolkien, but like you said, there is so much other fantasy out there, and they don’t all have to fall in the same vein as Tolkien’s. The point as an author is to be unique, and these authors sound like they fulfill that description.
I wasn't a fan of Tolkien's style (I'm an uneducated pumpkin) but his worldbuilding and languages and characters were so COMPLEX. It sends tiny-brained writers like me running. So it was endlessly a relief when I figured out fantasy could be written differently.
Megan Whalen Turner. Megan Whalen Turner. Megan Whalen Turner. Have you read The Queen’s Thief/Thief of Eddis series? She /always/ makes me want to be a better writer. (I’ve heard a lot of people that didn’t like the first one loved later ones…which basically means you have to read at least the first 2 to know if you like it or not…but I don’t know, I loved them all. XD) She is friends with Holly Black. And maybe Cassandra Clare too? http://cassandraclare.tumblr.com/post/10113065988… See. They both recommend her. XD So you definitely have to try her books. XD
NO I HAVEN'T BUT I'M GOING TO BECAUSE IF SHE'S FRIENDS WITH HOLLY BLACK AND CASSANDRA CLARE THEN THERE'S A HUGE CHANCE I'LL LOVE HER BOOKS.
I feel so terrible and uneducated. I haven’t read a single one of these authors. I’m sorry Cait! I’m trying to get hold of a copy of Raven Boys at the library though.
The one author I’m obsessed with is Rick Riordan. Oh Percy Jackson, the Kane, the Heroes of Olympus, they’re all too awesome for words. If I could write like that, my life would be complete. (you haven’t yet read the Kane Chronicles, have you? If not go read them, they’re Egyptian gods). Why do these authors get all talent and me nothing?
I’m also obsessed with PJO/HOO! And Magnus Chase comes out in October!
But you HAVE heard of Maggie Stiefvater because ME. hehe. ;-)Rick Riordan is hilarious. XD I'm nearly finished the first Percy Jackson and I'm 100% sure I'm going onto read like EVERY other of his books.Can't talent be shared equally?! COME ON. XD
I hope and pray IT CAN BE. And YES! I have heard and where do you suggest I start?
THE SCOPRIO RACES. Or The Raven Boys. Or all of them basically. *hugs all the books*
Yay for inspiring authors! All of the ones I’ve read on your list are amazing. (Side note; it makes my heart happy that most of the authors you listed are women. Girl power, right?!)
I can only half claim to be a writer, but my biggest inspiration is yet-to-be-published authors (like you!). Awesome writers with great stories bursting from the seams, just waiting for their chance on a bestsellers list, and writing and inspiring other writers in the meantime. As lazy as I may be when it comes to writing, it still gives me hope when I think about all the authors who are crazy passionate about it.
I know right?! I only ended up putting one guy up there! (Although I do love John Green, Markus Zusak and Neil Gaiman.) XDWaiting is hard…but…but IT'S GOOD TRYING TO BE AN AUTHOR. It's exciting. XD
For me (who reads pretty dang slow) this list is comprised of John Green, Alex London, Rainbow Rowell and, a recent addition, Holl Black. I’m, actually working my way towards… Wait. What is “The Coldest Girl in DOWNTOWN?” Lol. This is an AMAZING list! But, of course, you’re amazing. So.
HAAHA. YEP. DOWNTOWN. It's a companion novel to COLDTOWN. *dies laughing*
I am a writer but I don’t know if there’s one author that inspires me. I can’t even pick the ones that do because I’ve read so much. Really, I am inspired by all authors: the good AND the bad. The bad actually more than the good because it shows that anyone can get published because peoples’ tastes are so different.
I’ve actually been more inspired by the idea of author interaction. I was never actually a writer until recently. I talk to so many authors and they all talk about their publishing journey and how they’ve “accidently” become authors and I just thought it was so cool so I figured “why not try for myself?”
It is good to be inspired by ALL authors, and I've actually gone on to write books inspired by authors I didn't love. *shrugs* Although not ANYONE can be published. But peoples tastes differ so so much, it's true! XD
I love authors that make me feel strong emotion. Suzanne Collins being one. She showed how two people in love can overcome almost any obstacle. Colleen Houck, she created a great series with a love triangle that was well written and kept you somewhat frustrated. J.K. Rowling (I know, cliché answers but that’s why they are famous, duh!) She was amazing and her imagination is almost unparalleled! When I read I picture the things I am reading about, she got my mind going like almost no other. One other author, somewhat less known author that sparked me is Alethia Kontis. She does great with characters! Read her. The book of hers that I ‘read’ (I was not able to finish said book) was Enchanted. I need to go grab it and finish it. Patricia C. Wrede was particularly good as well. She takes classic things like knights in shining armor and shows them in the cliché way, then she has her main character, a princess, and turns her into an oddity by the standards of the world around her, likes to do things her way even if “It’s just not done,”. A very amusing tale and not a very long read. I love it. The first book in the series I read is Dealing with Dragons.
Now I am done with authors and books. I would love to be able to word things as eloquently as Tolkien, as imaginatively as Rowling, or a witty as Wrede, but I am just not that writer. How do I become that? I think I just need to stick with my far less than perfect writing and finish a draft then go back to refine my writing. But I am not that great with refinement. Help!
Did I also mention I love your blog and I find you most amusing?
It's not cliche to love a famous author! EXACTLY! JK Rowling is famous for a reason…she is incredible and momentously inspiring. I hadn't heard of Alethia Kontis but I do want to look her up now. 😉 I think we need to shout out about less-well-known authors! So many hidden gems, right?!Sometimes I think it's a process of just discovering who we LIKE and who we ARE, right?! Every writer has a different voice. XD
Suzanne Collins of COURSE. For basically the same reasons. I know this might sound cheesy, but I really feel like she changed my life. Other authors who I cannot get enough of? Lauren Oliver, Patrick Ness, Neal Shusterman, to name a few. Ann M. Martin totally got me into reading as a kid. I read every book she ever wrote (up until about 1998 or so), I couldn’t get enough. Lois Lowry was also a big one.
This is such a great post. It must be so amazing to inspire people so much!
It's not cheesy! I COMPLETELY AGREE. If not for Suzanne Collins I wouldn't even be reading, and therefore not book blogging and ermgerd what would life be like??!! I love Lois Lowry. Although I never finished the Giver quartet. I WANT TO THOUGH.
Aaaah, so many fabulous authors!! I agree with you for all the ones I have read books by, and for those whose books I haven’t read, I must remedy that! I think my fave on this list of yours would be Sarah J. Maas (I’m currently reading ACOTAR and absolutely loving it!). Apart from her I’m also a inspired by authors like Ally Carter (coz spies and thieves), Gillian Flynn (I love evil female leads) and of course J.K. Rowling!!! She’s the one I admire the most and probably the reason that I will never be able to write anything with witches or wizards (partly because I think I’d just sub-consciously steal all her ideas, but also because I feel like my writing could never compare to hers). I know that there are authors I’m forgetting and I’ll feel bad about not including later, but basically I love all authors because Yayyy they managed to write a book and I know how hard that is!
I want to start ACOTAR but, can I just admit…I'm too scared?! The wait between her books always KILLS me. XD Ally Carter is awesome and JK Rowling is just standard fabulousness, isn't she?!
Amazing post. <3 Some people idolize pop stars, but I idolize authors. 🙂 There are SO MANY authors out there are inspire me I honestly would not even know where to begin! Seriously, sometimes even I lose track of them all. 😉 Very high up on my list would have to be author like George R.R Martin, JK Rowling, John Green, etc. but really, every author who's managed to publish a book has inspired me some way or another. <3
Right, well you know who’s on the top of my list too. PRAISE THE QUEEN MAGGIE STIEFVATER!!!!! I think any author I read I just get inspired by their writing style and looking at how they use expression and create scenes and build tension etc. etc. But I do love listening to soundtrack music and reading poetry or drawing sketches or photoshopping or REALLY COOL OPENING LINES OR QUOTES!!!! askjfkljshdflks (I really do love opening lines!)
I SHALL BOW TO HER WITH YOU. WE ARE LOYAL STIEFVATERITES TOGETHER. I absolutely have no idea how she can totally wrap emotions around her finger in a single chapter. I'm so sucked into all her books. Ahhh!!! SUCH BRILLIANCE.
One of the biggest influences on me was Robin Hobb, ’cause I met her when I was impressionable and fifteen and she encouraged my writing.
Also Catherine Webb, because she was pretty much the same age as me and published (though I haven’t met her or even know much about her as a person, just loved her books and the fact that she has kept on writing).
I was just reading all the titles and seeing the pictures and thought…WAIT WHERE’S JOHN GREEN?? Yeah…I’m a pretty lazy reader, but then I read the honorable mentions! And I read the whole blogpost (don’t I every time you write? XD) John and Hank Green are my inspiration. They teach me how to be and stay awesome and inspire me to do a video blog someday. Also astronomers are all kind of my inspirations. I’m aiming to be one.
One a completely unrelated note, it’d would be really nice to see those post it notes!!
OH MY GOSH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Maggie Stiefvater is one of my author heroes too. And so is George R.R. Martin, even though he sort of scares me because he kills off so many of his characters. xD
Awesome post Cait! Authors are amazing, inspirational people whose work definitely deserves appreciation. How they manage to take their ideas and transform them into scenes which leap out of the pages is something special. Jackie French is, and probably will remain for a long time – my all-time favourite. Not only does she write some really amazing Australian fiction, but her advocating for all children having the opportunity to read is something admirable.
Why are we BLUE blogglings?
Tamora Pierce is totally my Cassandra Clare — Tamora Pierce is the author that really got me into reading fantasy anything. (Okay, so Harry Potter had a bit to do with that too, but I didn’t like anything else that was being pitched as “If you liked Harry Potter, you’ll like this.” I read basically nothing but Tamora Pierce for a LONG time. Until I’d read all of her books (at the time). And now, of course, I’m behind on hers 😛
I think Marissa Meyer and Anne Bishop have both just skyrocketed to the top of my list (like, as of the last week or so). Same with Maas. I’ve been surrounding myself with so much awesome this last week (seriously, I listened to the first 2 Others books by Bishop, then Cinder, and I’m in the middle of reading both The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness and Crown of Midnight by Maas. I just … SO MUCH GOOD!
I’d be in heaven if I could write anywhere near the level of any of these gals. That would just be a dream come true …
I agree – I think you have to be really amazing to write awesome books.
I was expecting Maggie Stiefvater as soon as I saw the title of this post!:)She sounds awesome,and I really want to read her books.I just bought The Raven Boys-inspired by your fangirling-and I hope I’ll get to it soon.
And Sarah J.Mass is one of the best authors ever!I suspect she is as kick ass as her characters.
My author hero will always be J.K.Rowling!She taught me a lot and introduced me to a magical world and I’ll always be thankful for her.
Ahhhhh so many good authors! Let me think…
Rick Riordan. How can anybody be that hilarious and ahhhhh his characters are amazing.
Shannon Hale. Her style. Wow.
Gail Carson Levine. Got me into fairytale retellings.
JK Rowling of course.
I need to finish Scorpio Races! I started but I wasn’t able to finish it. Still, just from the beginning I could see her talent!
This is a good list. ^ ^ I haven’t read books from all of them, but they sound cool. Bryan Davis author of the Dragons in Our Midst series is immensely inspiring to me. I would not be the writer I am today without him. Other writers I admire are Jill Williamson and Steven James.
Stori Tori’s Blog
DID YOU SAY DRAGONS?! Yay! I should check him out because draaaagons. They are awesome. I've only read Replication by Jill, but it's epic. 😉