What’s your secret influences?

[Emilymcplugger]

So when I did ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE I made no bones that it was an unofficial sequel so this obviously massively influenced the writing, HOWEVER, there was an influence to the story that probably nobody spotted which was the Steve Martin/Victoria Tennant character arc in LA Story.

During the writing process this was massively on my mind and I hope that anyone that reads it feels this influence to, but probably not.

So anyway, what are your story influences that probably only you know, but your proud they powered your stories along?

 

[KeithD]

Memories. Memories--dragging them up and reliving some and "what iffing?" others. Those are my writing influences.

 

[EmilyMiller]

When I wrote Coleoidphilia, I was initially massively focussed on two things:

1. How to make the tentacle porn element credibly consensual (I don’t like noncon)
2. How to credibly explain the “tentacle monster” (mine wasn’t a monster at all) plus some abilities I had imbued him with - a sort of hard Sci-Fi lite approach

There was also the issue of writing in two genres (Sci-Fi and tentacle porn) in which I had previously penned precisely zero words.

Given all that, I had more or less finished the thing before I realized that a big part of the plot was based on my own isolated years where I learnt heavily on porn and on them eventually ending due to me meeting my boyfriend (who - given my attitude to meeting new men at that point - was definitely “the other” to my mind). When this dawned on me, I sort of went with it and even made some revisions to emphasize this aspect.

See I can’t break free from autobiography, even for a space monster story .

Em

 

[cuppatea]

Huge paranormal/spooky stuff influence.

The “investigation” shows have me in a strange state of hysterical laughter and cringing.

I’ve tried reading the classic ghost stories for influence as well.

 

[Euphony]

Research participants.

The literature is full of testimonials, occurrences, reasonings for outlier behavior.

With minimal artistic license (for readability) you can craft a real interesting tale of outside the norms behavior.

When the troll commenter army comes, and they will, you can be secure in the knowledge that, despite vocal protests and absolute certainty "this could never happen," it can, did, and made academically published literature. (exponentially more implausible than simply "happening", yet it did.)

Makes for more creative license (for the plausibility sufferers like moi) in other tales b/c you've enmeshed yourself in all the weird possibility of humanity so it's reasonable your dialed down fictional example has likely happened even without an interviewee to confirm.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

On the window-ledge before my computer rest a bell, a book and a candle. You are free to take that however you wish.

 

[SamScribble]

My late father. He loved words.

 

[gunhilltrain]

So when I did ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE I made no bones that it was an unofficial sequel so this obviously massively influenced the writing, HOWEVER, there was an influence to the story that probably nobody spotted which was the Steve Martin/Victoria Tennant character arc in LA Story.

During the writing process this was massively on my mind and I hope that anyone that reads it feels this influence to, but probably not.

So anyway, what are your story influences that probably only you know, but your proud they powered your stories along?

The problem is that if I'm referring to a movie, I will name it, even if the plot is mostly different. I Shot Andy Warhol was such a movie, in which I specifically said that the stories were intended to fit into the existing film. Secret influences, of any kind? That's tougher. My Geek Pride entry may have some small ones.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

On the window-ledge before my computer rest a bell, a book and a candle. You are free to take that however you wish.

Either I have no idea of your influences, or else you’re the reincarnated Dalai Lama.

 

[cuppatea]

Either I have no idea of your influences, or else you’re the reincarnated Dalai Lama.

I was thinking strange seances … but that could be me.

 

[tenyari]

My stories are usually heavily written in pieces in my dreams. And dreams are just how your mind sorts and catalogues the experiences in your life - even when the dream seems to make no sense or have no relation to you. And so I'm dreaming about what I write and writing about what I dream. I guess I'm stuck in some kind of circle jerk as far as influences go.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

Memories mostly, as well as snippets of things I hear that stick with me. Then I build on them, and I've a got a story.

 

[ElectricBlue]

My late father. He loved words.

After my dad died, my mother used to rant against the expression, "the late (name redacted]". "He was never late," she'd say, "he was always on time. Always well organised, your father. But he's dead now, not late."

I'm the same - the euphemism, "passed". My parents died, they didn't pass (by, on, or anything). I find it a coy and ridiculous expression, and it doesn't disguise death at all.

But like you, my dad and his love of words and the history of a place. And as others are saying, memories. I write what I call "erotic nostalgia".

 

[12oclocktales]

Rather than having content influencers (writing about the same ideas) I seem to be more influenced stylistically by others, especially in dialogue, which for some reason tends toward being humorous, brash/over the top, silly, self-deprecatory, and wise-guyish, even when it might not make much sense for it to be so. And it's always the female characters that talk like this, bless their hearts! But I'm forever trying to tone them down, often failing. The influence comes from very early Mark Twain, Groucho Marx, Damon Runyon, and Larry McMurtry, all whom I admire wildly.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Either I have no idea of your influences, or else you’re the reincarnated Dalai Lama.

Isnt the Dalai Lama the reincarnated Dalai Lama?

(Or are you suggesting his Holiness hangs out on Lit?)

 

[Emilymcplugger]

Isnt the Dalai Lama the reincarnated Dalai Lama?

(Or are you suggesting his Holiness hangs out on Lit?)

You’ve got a point. He might not be here.

However the Beach boys might. You know. Cause they get around.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

Rather than having content influencers (writing about the same ideas) I seem to be more influenced stylistically by others, especially in dialogue, which for some reason tends toward being humorous, brash/over the top, silly, self-deprecatory, and wise-guyish, even when it might not make much sense for it to be so. And it's always the female characters that talk like this, bless their hearts! But I'm forever trying to tone them down, often failing. The influence comes from very early Mark Twain, Groucho Marx, Damon Runyon, and Larry McMurtry, all whom I admire wildly.

That’s a hell of a list, only two I’m familiar with, but any list that includes Twain and Groucho sets a seriously humorous tone.

Was that an oxymoron?
No, just a regular one.

 

[Rob_Royale]

All the beautiful older women I've known throughout my life. I've always been into mom's best friend, hot divorced neighbor, and best friend's mom scenarios, dating back as far as I can remember. Writing has let me revisit these lovely ladies in all the ways I always imagined.

 

[stickygirl]

Honesty
The horizon

 

[gunhilltrain]

All the beautiful older women I've known throughout my life. I've always been into mom's best friend, hot divorced neighbor, and best friend's mom scenarios, dating back as far as I can remember. Writing has let me revisit these lovely ladies in all the ways I always imagined.

You changed your avatar. This one looks a lot more "cuddly." But yeah, I'm sure many of us have been inspired by events we wished we had experienced, but never did. But there are a few I'm glad I missed. Usually those involve breakup scenes.

 

[Rob_Royale]

You changed your avatar. This one looks a lot more "cuddly."

Yeah, My wife digs the Dad bod with muscles. She calls me her teddy bear warrior. Comfy but highly trained. I thought it would be a fun avatar.

 

[Blind_Justice]

My influences aren't secret. I simply took my storytelling from the gaming table into a more static format and added a bit more sex.

 

[Imstillfun]

My husbands dirty mind, memories, fantasies. Actually, my husbands dirty mind is what turned me into a slut and gave me my memories and fantasies.

 

[Duleigh]

Most of my stories are influenced by the people I know, the places I've been, the things that I've seen or done. However I'm currently writing a story that's takes place in a strange flat world that rests on the back of four elephants that stand on the back of a very large turtle as it swims through space. It's a fan fiction so I'm making no attempt to hide the source and many people here might know where that came from.

 

[Seadog777]

I do not have "secret" influeneces.

The author that I trust the most is @lovecraft68.

They have always been brutally honest with me (like I am to everyone) and told me if something was , or if it was good.