Copy Cat or Similar Dog
I know, I know. You can tell that I like Robert Fulghum a lot. I won’t deny it, because it’s true. He was one of the first authors I fell in love with. I admire how simple his stories are. Sometimes they are many pages, and sometimes they are two paragraphs. Like the small bear’s porridge from the Goldilocks story, his portion of words is just right.
The best advice I ever got about public speaking was to say only what needed to be said in the shortest time possible. No filibustering. People can tell the difference between someone who has a point, and someone who likes the sound of their own voice. I feel like Fulghum accomplishes that perfectly. He can share interesting thoughts or experiences with simple snippets that convey just enough to make the point without any bloat.
I promise I’m not trying to copy his voice. But I am trying to emulate what his books do for me. Namely, his words help me remember that there is a lot of good in the world. He demonstrates that levity can be found by focusing on the smaller things in life. That grace often flows from the thoughts and expressions of children, or adults who act like children.
Another influence on my approach to writing was Andre Agassi, and his autobiography Open. I love biographies, and this is one of my favorites. Forget the tennis aspect of it, what really captures me is his rawness. He divulges everything about what shaped him, the choices he made (both good and bad), the consequences he suffered, and how he really feels through all of it. Whenever I read biographies, a small part of me is really asking the question, “is there anyone out there like me, that sees what I see, that feels the way I feel?” Agassi leaves no doubt about his true take on life.
The final voice I can’t get out of my head is Kurt Vonnegut, my favorite author. He reminds me that it is ok to be surreal, inquisitive, and weird. I love how he uses english words in a way that feels off, but somehow perfectly conveys complex themes. After I’ve spent a lot of time in his novels, I find myself narrating my own mundane life in his voice while I cook breakfast.
The question in any medium is always where that fine line exists. In regards to the way I write - I feel more like a similar dog to these great authors, rather than a copy cat.
While writing is a pretty new adventure, I’ve actually done a lot of public speaking. In that medium, using my own voice is really easy, because it’s literally my speech patterns, mannerisms, and personality that comes through. I have a lot of writing to do before I will find how to convey all of myself with the simplicity of just words. Thanks for being patient as I find my voice in this new space.
