Inspired

I love peeking into the minds of writers to understand what inspired them to write their own novels. Personally, there is nothing better than to lose myself in another world whether it be a magical, geographical, historical, or psychological one. Somewhere that captures my imagination and takes me on a new journey. Perhaps Venice during the second world war or Christmas in a Cotswold’s kitchen, warm with the aroma of gingerbread but wherever it is, it is a momentary respite from my current reality. Yes, these novels are my escape but they are also my inspiration. 

How many times have you read a book and exclaimed “I can’t get enough of this beautiful language!” or “What a fabulous idea!” or “Fancy making the character do that! I would never have thought of it!” How many times do you think “Right, enough reading for now! It’s time to get on with mine!” I’m inspired to write.

I decided to do a little bit of research to discover the authors that inspire other famous authors:

Ernest Hemmingway described books as his “loyal friends” and in 1935 published a list of seventeen books that had inspired him to write. Among them were Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights and Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

As a child, CS Lewis created a whole world of personified animals to escape the miserable reality of boarding school. Later, he was inspired by the Bible and his magical world to write a series of adventures for children that would display friendship, bravery, honesty and kindness. 

Best-selling author, Neil Gaiman was inspired by CS Lewis and when reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a child he decided he would become a writer.

Philip Pullman hated CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia and was inspired to write His Dark Materials almost as an antidote.

JK Rowling attributes Jane Austin and E Nesbit’s The Story of the Treasure Seekers as her inspiration to write.

Mrs Peggotty - David Copperfield 

Me? Well, the list is rather long but includes CS Lewis’s Narnia stories, Michelle Magorian’s Goodnight Mr. Tom, everything written by Daphne Du Maurier, Noel Streatfeild’s  A Vicarage Family and The Bell Family, Eve Garnett’s Family from One End Street, Charles Dicken’s David Copperfield and Great Expectations, Ernest Hemmingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, JRR Tolkien’s Hobbit, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Khaled Hosseini’s Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak… I was and still am the proverbial bookworm. As I worm my way through each book they too worm their way into my brain, find a cosy corner and curl up. Forever in my head to inspire and encourage. 

Which author has most inspired you to write?

*sources: wanderingeducators.com, Ericawagner.co.uk, study.com,