Throughout my blog posts from both this semester and last semester, I’ve done a lot of them on how to write or the kind of writer I aspire to be. However, I never actually talked about the kind of writing I like or the works that inspired me to start writing, so I want to mention some of them here.
I had always written stories when I was little, but one of the books that made me want to write earnest was The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Most of you have probably heard of the book or the movie that came out in 2012 with Emma Watson and Logan Lerman. The book and the movie are pretty similar, but if you haven’t read the book it’s really short and I highly recommend it. Basically, it’s told in the form of letters from the main character, Charlie, and they are addressed to the reader (he usually starts with “Dear friend”). This is done to make it seem like Charlie is just talking to you the whole time. This might not seem like it’s an effective writing device, but it really makes you feel like you are a part of the story and like you are experiencing everything Charlie is. The book is also really short, but it’s able to pack in so much about how it is to feel like an outsider in high school. Chbosky does an excellent job at sticking to the point and not overwriting, but he still gets his message across. I remember closing the book when I first finished it and just sitting quietly for a few minutes. I wanted to write something that would make the reader feel like they were actually in the story.
The second author that inspired me is the one and only J. K. Rowling, which might sound like a cliché. However, the reason she inspires me isn’t her actual writing (don’t get me wrong I love Harry Potter and it’s one of my favorite series, but that’s beside the point). The reason I admire her is because she was able to overcome so many obstacles such as financial insecurity, rejection, and clinical depression and still write a book. She also proved writing could be an actual career.
I’m really glad I was exposed to these books and these writers because they’ve really helped shape me into the person I am, and I hope with every book I read and everything I write I will continue to grow.