I know writers of novels who say they don’t read fiction at all while working on a book, out of fear of “being influenced” by what they read. I am struck by horror at the thought of going years without being able to read fiction (though perhaps these people write faster than I do, and take long vacations between books?)—but more struck by the sheer silliness of this.
Everything writers see, think, and experience influences their work. How could it not? Now, it’s true that people do ask writers, “Where do you get your ideas?” and that writers–out of facetiousness or desperation–give answers like, “From the Sears catalog” (or “From Ideas.com,” depending on the writer’s vintage). But the truth is that writers get ideas from every damn thing they see, hear, smell, touch, taste, think, feel, or do—including the books they read.
Naturally, one wants to develop a unique voice, but do kids learn to talk without ever being talked to? You have an individual voice, by virtue of being an individual. And your individuality is composed of your essential God-given spark of personality and of the sum total of the things you encounter in life. Now, whether each encounter is a bruising collision or a fruitful act of love…who knows? But all of it is grist to a writer’s mill; so much should be obvious, if one reads at all widely.
Personally, I learned to read at the age of three, and have read non-stop ever since. I’m 58 now; you can read a lot of books in fifty-five years. I’m sure that every single book I’ve ever read has had some influence on me as a writer, whether negative (I’ve read a lot of books with the mounting conviction that I would never in my life do something like that) or positive.
When I first began to write fiction, though, I was deliberately looking for positive influences, and luckily had quite a few to hand. During the writing of my first novel (OUTLANDER/CROSS STITCH, which I wrote for practice, not intending to ever show it to anyone), I consciously considered the art and techniques of these five writers in particular:
Charles Dickens – Nobody does characters like Dickens did, and that’s why his books endure. He told excellent stories and painted a vivid portrait of Victorian society, but that society consists of people who live, breathe, and speak on the page. I learned from him the art of evoking a character: naming and describing people in such vivid detail as to make them live.
Robert Louis Stevenson – One of the earliest and best of the romance writers—back when “romance” meant adventure and excitement, escape from daily life. TREASURE ISLAND? KIDNAPPED? THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE? The titles alone are enough to transport you, but the clean prose and vivid characters bring you back again and again.
Dorothy L. Sayers – Mistress of dialogue, character, humor and social nuance. From her, I learned that dialogue is the single most defining trait of character, and just how much you can do with accent, idiom, and dialect. Also, that a character is embedded in his or her social matrix, and that matrix is as important as the individual’s personal characteristics.
John D. MacDonald – John D. was a prolific writer, with more than five hundred novels to his credit, in more than one genre, but was best known for his Travis McGee mystery/thrillers. From him, I learned how to sustain characters over the course of a long series, how to maintain a narrative drive, how to write action, and how to pace a story.
P.G. Wodehouse – one of the most popular humorists ever. Pelham Grenville Wodehouse taught me how much sheer amusement you can derive from the English language—and the art of constructing a plot that works so seamlessly that it doesn’t matter how absurd it is. And no one who’s ever had the pleasure of meeting Bertie Wooster and his gentleman’s personal gentleman, Jeeves—let alone his bevy of friends and nemeses (Gussie Fink-Nottle and his Aunt Agatha, to mention only two)—will ever forget them.
I learned a great deal from all these writers—and from hundreds more. What every
writer on this list of personal muses has in common, though, is great skill in the matter of creating characters. And character, I think, is the single most important thing in fiction. You might read a book once for its interesting plot—but not twice. When you meet a fascinating person in the pages of a book, though, you come back, discovering new relevance, seeing new depths—or just enjoying the renewal of a long and lasting friendship.
Diana, I couldn't agree with you more! I defy anyone to say that they are not influenced by everything around them as well as everything they read, be that academic work, novels, newspapers and anything in between.
All this, coupled with one's own life experiences, both good and bad, give each of us a unique view of the world, no matter where in that world we come from and what culture. However, it is only when one is prepared and brave enough to step outside your situation and look critically at one's own culture/way of life/situation from someone else's point of view that a fully rounded person emerges. I think you have done this admirably throughout your Outlander series, as well as the Lord John series – it is a real lesson to us all of how to write and learn at the same time.
Hope you have a great time at Strathpeffer Games and can get some more research done whilst you are over here in Scotland.
Irene Paulton
Coming back again and again to your books has mystified my family. "How can you read those books over and over again?" It was hard to put a finger on why I do, but you stated it perfectly clearly. We come back again and again because of the characters. I know these are fiction, but sometimes I find myself asking, "I wonder what Jaime and Claire are up to?" Then I know it is time to begin reading the series once more. Thank you!!!
Oh Jenny…your comment made me laugh because my family has asked me the exact question when they see me reading the Outlander series again. Luckily, I've passed my books on to co-workers and now I have people at work to talk to about Jamie and Claire. As teachers, we have to monitor the halls during passing periods and I love that I can run over and discuss the Frasers, even if it's only 4 minutes at a time. The characters have been so well written that they ARE real to us. Thanks, Diana, for giving us that little break from reality to keep us sane!
Jenny and Amy – right there with ya – have read and re-read Outlanders so many times -Jamie and Clare are now real people and it IS like visiting old friends and seeing how they've been. My family doesn't get it either.
Like they say in the trade; “there is nothing new under the sun.” Writers get ideas from everywhere even from other writers. What makes it stand out? The same thing that makes oneself memorable: the personality of your writing, a unique voice, a style.
I couldn’t imagine myself not reading while writing. It is true that sometimes, I stop reading, while writing, if my mind is too convoluted conceiving an idea. But then, the legally schizophrenic mind, the mind of a writer, has the need to partially detach from its characters and drop in into a different adventure in order to breathe in new air that helps the writer move forward. It’s like taking your family for a visit to friends. At least that is my personal experience.
I also have my favorites who in a way have influenced me. Just to name a few:
Isabel Allende; Paulo Coelho; Milán Kundera, and of course you Diana.
Thanks, Diana. Always a pleasure to read what you have to say about things.
Aside from the Outlander series, I have a few other series that I love. Why do I love them? Because of the characters. William G. Tapply – Brady Coyne; Philip J. Craig – J.W. Jackson; Donna Leona – Guido Brunetti; Sue Grafton – Kinsey Milhone; J.D. Robb – Eve Dallas and Roarke. If I tell people they think it's ODD that I'd re-read mysteries. *G* But I enjoy the characters so much, it's like hanging out with them! (Not to mention, half the time I can't remember who done it *G*.) For me: "When you meet a fascinating person in the pages of a book, though, you come back, discovering new relevance, seeing new depths—or just enjoying the renewal of a long and lasting friendship." – it's all about the last bit….
Thanks. Diana.
Judie
Wonderfully written. And what you are saying is exactly how I feel about Jamie and Clare. They have become real people to me. Here's the perfect example for you. I have recently planted a garden in a community plot, and was wondering how I was going to keep all the vegetables I grow from going bad at my house. I found myself thinking "What did Clare do with her garden?". I often find myself thinking of them in real life, and have read the series at least 10 times. It's about time for me to read it again, to be ready for when the new book comes out.
The books that have stayed with me over the years are the ones who characters speak to me in a real sense. Their features are completely clear to me and I can hear their voices having conversations with the other characters.
The characters become that way because of the authors real life experiences. Diana, you know how to make a simple moment, like a Granny making cookies with her grandson, become an experience that is as real to me as if I were standing in that kitchen with them.
I know that I will read your books over and over again, because I find new things everytime I read them.
I always wanted to write because I love to read. I was raised on a ranch in New Mexico and attended a rural school with three teachers for grades kindergarten though 8th. High school involved a bus ride of 64 miles every day, one way.
I had all the time in the world to read. I married a cowboy and raised three children and glory be…when they were grown my husband bought me a PC! The world opened up, I took classes, learned HTML, built a webpage and began to write. I write for my own satisfaction and expect never to publish. But I enjoy it immensely, almost as well as reading.
When one of my grown daughters brought 'Outlander' and told me how wonderful it was I have been hooked ever since. I live with Claire and Jamie; my mother's people came from Scotland to settle in South Carolina in the years before the revolution and I like to think you sort of wrote their history. If so, I am deeply in love with my many greatsgrandfather!!
My list of influences has changed since then, you Diana, are the top of my list. There are many more but no one does it better.
Thank you for you books. I am a lurker here but part of my day is to check in to see what you are doing. I find that you are doing fine, and that is wonderful…
Speaking for myself, I do tend to be very influenced by books if the author has a strong voice. But so what? You just edit it out for consistency after you're finished, right?
What I don't get is when writers tell me they don't really read books. I'm like, "Hur?"
Hi Diana,
I am a lifelong reader and just wanted you to know that you are my all time favorite author ever. I absolutely love your books and don't think I get any more excited than when a new book from you is imminent! Thank you for providing the very best characters (adore Jaime and Claire) and story line around.
Kelly
I completely agree. To pretend you are not influenced by other writers is sheer silliness. Whether it's apositive influence (or negative "I don't EVER want to do that!" as you said) helps you develop as a writer. I wish I could still write to Laura Ingalls Wilder and tell her how much her books influenced me and motivated me to want to be a novelist as a young child. I am happy to still be able to contact you and say that your writing (and Claire's wit) has found its way into my writing.
Ahh, yes, creating fascinating characters that you want to revisit time and time again is key to successful writing, but so few authors are able to achieve it! I love all the characters you've created in the Outlander series and have re-read the books numerous times, but over the years and many, many books later, I have found very few authors that tempt me to re-read.
I envy those that learned to read at an early age.
One of the strongest influential characters in my life was a teacher (Notre Dame Nun) in my freshman year in high school. Because I wasn't a very accomplished reader in elementary school, I had to take a remedial reading course in high school. She didn't care what I read, novels, comic books, magazines, cook books. So long as I enjoyed them and understood them. I will never forget her for as long as I live. I read to my own children everyday when they were young and will do so with grandchildren as well.
Your characters seem to "come to life" on the pages. To me they were/are real people. I often wonder what's become of some of the lesser characters in the books? You make it so that one could actually believe that they were/are real people. I have to remind myself that they aren't real (very hard to do sometimes). And while I appreciate all of them, I must admit that it's the people of my world that have the greatest influence on me. And I hope that I've had some influence on them.
Since my high school days I've become a voracious reader and have read many kinds of stories. I make it a point to finish a book, regardless of the storyline or style of writing (it's very difficult sometimes.)I feel I owe it to the author as they've done something I only dream of.
Can't wait for the next adventure of Jamie and Claire.
Dear Diana,
I have read books that were unforgettable for several reasons. A great plot, an excellent adventure, idiosyncratic characters, a favorite period of history, all these and more have caused me to collect books over my life's time.
Never have I been so moved by a story, by characters, the times, events and adventures as I have been moved by your books. If someone told me that I would visit a website where excerpts from a series of books were posted and where every aspect of that excerpt would be dissected, analyzed, argued and merited, I would've said they're ridiculous. Foolish.
How is it that a fictional man and woman matter to me as much as any dear friend? How could I fear for their lives? Wonder what they think or feel? Why do I cringe with pain or feel my blood pressure rise in anger as a result of judgments or injustices done unto them? And, for heaven's sake, why do I ponder the absolute joy and sheer fun it would be to have sex with a tall, red headed Scotsman when I am so happily married? Sheesh!
I love Charles Dickens. I really dig A.S. Byatt, Herman Hesse, John Steinbeck. But, you, Diana, are my favorite author. Your books are my go-to books when that certain something is missing in my life, when I need something to "make it all better."
Thank you.
Midge
You are an inspiration and so very gracious with sharing your time and talents. Thank you!
I finally saw the Exile excerpt in the back of the Green Slime book – FANTASTIC. I can't wait for the release!
Thanks Diana, I am an avid reader also, I was the one when people asked my Mum where's Heather? She'd reply, She's Happily off in a corner with a book
I can't imagine not reading something every day. And like all of your readers Jamie, Claire and all are very real to me too. I can't wait for Exile to come along, 
Diana,
I just checked out the website created for the musical that is being made, and I wanted to tell you again that I would REALLY love to be apart of the cast.
I am 14 living in Santa Rosa, California and I sort of love your writing. (who doesn't?)
Acting has been my thing for 6 years now and I've always wanted to be in a big production such as this.
Even being an extra would be fine.
My email is gowizards14@yahoo.com
and I also have a facebook.
Please, please contact me about this, you don't know how much it would mean to me.
-Miranda Williams
Loved your post, and I completely agree with you.
I've been trying to write for the past few months, I have a lot of stories in my head that I want to write, but I am a brazilian and I want to write my stories in English, so I've been reading a lot of books, learning writing techniques, etc. I have to say, Your books were the ones that helped me the most, my vocabulary has increased substantially and I learned a lot!
I am very focused on improving my writing and English in general, so I will read these books you were influenced by, and try to sharpen my skills a little bit. I haven't read most of the classics yet, like Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson…
Hugs,
Elisa
Hi, Miranda!
Well, see, there isn't a stage production at present, though there -might- eventually be one. Right now, what we have is a recording of the libretto–the songs alone. There's no script as yet, let alone funding, theatre, etc.
It's also a pretty minimalist production; very well produced, but sung by only four (very talented) voices. Um…all of them adults (with the exception of the two young sisters who sing the Gaelic of the "Ist tu fuil…" song). Granted, a _big_ stage show would likely have a chorus that might employ younger people, but as I say, we aren't there yet.
Being ambitious is a good thing, though–go on asking and being out there! And the best of luck to you, too. [smile]