Look to Your Heroes for Inspiration

by Katrina Martin

I think writers sometimes forget that they occasionally have to take a break from creating in order to refuel. One of the best ways to pump up your own creativity is to do a little idol worship for a while. By that I mean pick up books or articles by your favorite authors and delve into their writing.

I often do this and the people I turn to have changed over the years. If you'd asked me in high school whom I admired, I would have said Woodward and Bernstein, the quintessential journalists from the Washington Post who stirred things up for the Nixon administration. In college I would have said Keats or Steinbeck or Poe--I was heavily influenced by my English classes at the time.

But today I have different ideas of heroes and role models. I admire writers who compose directly from the heart, those who tell it straight and don't mess around with lengthy descriptions. I love writers who have a conversational tone, and when I pick up a book or an article and I feel like the writer is sitting in the room speaking to me, I know I've found a writing soul-mate.

By that token, here are some of my favorite writers--people who have become my heroes.

Anne Lamott

Many writers know her as the woman who wrote Bird by Bird. This book is my writing bible not only for its sage advice, but also for its brilliant writing. Lamott is incapable of sugary, sappy prose--she is brash and bossy and I eat it up. I've read this book twice now and I am sure I'll pore over its pages many more times. Her fiction is not to be overlooked. Lamott's characters are instantly recognizable and the way she describes human relationships is beautiful and intricate.

Jane Yolen

Jane Yolen writes children's picture books, poetry for children, and science fiction and fantasy for adults. Her book on writing, Take Joy: A Book for Writers, is a delight. Yolen takes her extensive publishing experience and helps writers understand the process, the fear and, of course, the joy of writing. I first found out about Yolen when teaching poetry to fifth-graders. Her word choice and imagery were simple yet exquisite and helped the children get engaged in learning poetry. Ever since then I've been a fan of her work and I strive to be a captivating a children's author like her.

Barbara Kingsolver

If you've never read Kingsolver, get up from your chair, get your keys, drive down to your local independent bookstore, and buy a copy of any of her books. My favorites are The Bean Trees and The Poisonwood Bible. Kingsolver is a master of setting and characterization. I can still picture scenes from her books years later and her characters are as fresh to me as the friend I saw last weekend. She weaves important messages into her work, yet her approach is subtle, which I like. I don't want to be hit over the head with politics, but authors who cleverly include them in the background work magic. If I could one day write a novel as gorgeous and heartfelt as her work I would truly feel accomplished.

Lemony Snicket

Who knows what his real name is, but what a great pseudonym. And his greatness does not end there--far from it. His books, written for children ages nine-ish and up, appealed to me the second I read the first sentence of the first book in his Series of Unfortunate Events. Any writer who injects sarcasm into his work is number one in my book. He not only adds sarcasm, but he also includes puns, plays on words, fantastical storylines, (morose) humor and he teaches children things along the way, which is a tall order. He fills his pages with style and panache. I read his work for inspiration when I hit a wall with my own writing for children.

David Sedaris

Sedaris is a humorist with a penchant for perfectly capturing the personality quirks of people and for finding humor in the most unlikely circumstances. When I read Me Talk Pretty One Day there was one scene that had me laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my cheeks and I could barely catch my breath. Writing never does this for me, so needless to say, I feel like he is some kind of deity. He captures life's little idiosyncrasies with wit and style and his writing is definitely conversational. I want to be half as good as he is someday.

I could go on for pages and hours, so I'll sum up by saying this: if you're a writer and you've felt a lack of inspiration lately, look to your heroes. Soak up their words and wisdom--you'll be renewed and refreshed.