How has my life influenced my writing?

As a writer everything I see and do will influence what I write about. Born and bred in London with a paranoid mother I've been inbuilt with a subconscious skill of noticing almost everything that is happening around me; cautious of everyone and everything. I’m quite sure if i didn't have my friends I would be as much a recluse as the great Emily Dickinson once was ... although for very different reasons. Dickinson’s surroundings, and the things she read are clearly shown in her work. She struggled with a depressed mother, possibly fighting with depression herself, and battled with feelings for her brother’s wife; all of which had a large influence on her poetry.

History is a huge influence on my writing. After being forced to watch countless documentaries with my mum and grandma about various events in history, I started to develop a real interest for it; In particular Victorian London. Some of the greatest novels have been set in the streets of Victorian London, one major example of course being Sherlock Holmes. With so much history coming from just one city the possibilities are endless. The same story-line can have such a different outcome simply by moving it through the strong divides of the class system that were more prominent at that time.

I definitely believe that where you are from, what you read and what interests you have has a huge impact on what you write. Without those influences I’m quite sure today’s books and films would not be nearly as interesting. 

Is the writer as an artist special?

Of course the writer would like to think so, who wouldn't? But is the writer actually special or is it what they write that should be considered special? 

When reading a book I don't often consider the author and how 'special' they are as an artist. It was only until earlier today in my author studies class that I even considered the life of the author. I'm sure most of you wouldn't take the time to research the author of the book you were reading (unless perhaps it was relevant to the story), and surely this shows that the author is not that special?

Once something has been published; or even just seen by people who aren't friends and family, the author no longer plays a part in what they have written. Barthes 1967 'Death of the Author' essay supports a similar theme that the writing and the creator are unrelated.
Once the book is in the hands of the reader, I consider the person who is reading it to be the special one. They have to use their imagination to create scenes and images out of the words that the author has given them. Every reader is different in their interpretations of characters and settings etc. which to me, makes their artistic imagination the most special part of any book.


When a piece of work is in progress, in an artistic point of view the author is the most important and 'special' person when looking at the success of a piece of work. However, once it is released to public eyes, the author, whether willingly or not, relinquishes their importance over the piece.