Free Write 2/20/2023: Influence 

Influence is the most natural thing, I think. It’s how we learn how to be. As a writer and as a person, what has influenced one has influenced the other. 

In terms of art and entertainment, I think back to first reading the first Harry Potter with my mom, then reading the rest as fast as could on my own. I remember watching Lord of the Rings and immediately devouring the books. I read dozens of Animorph novels and most of the Redwall series. 

I can’t forget about Toonami. I loved watching Dragon Ball Z, Rurouni Kenshin, Tenchi Universe, YuYu Hakusho, Gundam Wing, Naruto, Full Metal Alchemist, and I’ll stop there. I love watching anime. I did then and I still do. I think my fantasy and sci-fi writings are influenced by my favorite anime as much as western fantasy and sci-fi novels.

I worked my way through plenty of those too. My 7th-grade science teacher introduced me to the Star Wars EU and I devoured something like 16 of those books. I read the Bartimaeus novels, and I read the Eragon series. I read every fantasy novel in my school library with an interesting cover. That included the Song of Ice and Fire novels and the trilogy that started with Master of the Five Magics which I was engrossed with. My first attempt at a novel, handwritten across many notebooks, was largely a mix of the magic systems from Master of the Five Magics and a world that mirrored Lord of the Rings. I drew maps, and wrote histories, it was a ton of fun.

I began to be more interested in literature and whatnot. I had my first creative writing class in high school and started learning about poetry. I never really wrote it before then.

I would eventually discover Wheel of Time and the King Killer Chronicles. Found a lot more Gundam series to watch including Gundam Unicorn which is still a favorite. It was also a great time for rewatching old anime for free.

I was a lot more into literature, in particular, I was a fan of Hemingway. For poetry, I guess a preferred American poetry but did enjoy a few British poets such as Rudyard Kipling and Dylan Thomas. However, Petry by Poe, Dickinson, Hughes, and Ginsberg was usually what I preferred.

After college, I traveled a bit. I learned a lot and started writing about other things. I spent at least half of my 20s in Taiwan. I speak Mandarin Chinese a bit. At least well enough to keep taxi cab drivers talking. I think I know more about Taipei, than any American City. I know all the spots in Yilan too. Hell, I almost died there. I learned most bout being an adult there.

Now, well, I have some time to write. That’s its own blessing. I’ve had quite the life so far, I think. Plenty more fun to be had. I appreciate all my influences, especially the ones above. I think I might appreciate those up there as some of the most.