This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Go into any bookshop on-line or in town and you'll find a section for inspirational books. You'll also find books on How To Write. And while these books have their own merits, true inspiration to write often comes simply from reading a brilliant novel.
Not only is the book telling you a fantastic story but as you turn each page, hands slightly trembling, stomach skipping with butterflies, you are inspired to open your laptop or pick up a pen and start creating stories of your own.
Here are five books that have inspired the Novelicious team to do just that.
The Drowning of Arthur Braxton by Caroline Smailes – Caroline's first novel, In Search of Adam, broke many barriers both in the subject matter, which was profoundly disturbing, and in the style she wrote it. The Drowning of Arthur Braxton, her fifth novel, is the tale of Arthur who finds a naked woman swimming in an abandoned bathhouse. The book is a modern fairytale, gritty and wonderfully odd. Caroline's magical prose left me breathless, thoughtful, and feeling special – with scenes from the book staying with me long after I'd put it down.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell – set in the eighties, this is the story of teenagers Eleanor and Park. Over a soundtrack of Joy Division and The Smiths and against a backdrop of X-men comics, the two teenagers develop their friendship and love. For Kirsty, editor of Novelicious, the romantic story and the depth of the characters were extraordinarily written.
The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer – this book is set just after the second world war and written as a series of letters. The main character is author Juliet Ashton who is looking for the subject of her next book. Out of the blue she receives a letter from Guernsey islander, Dawsey Adams, and she writes back. Dawsey is part of a book club called the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and soon Juliet is writing to all of them – learning about their experiences during the war. Cesca says that it made her want to write characters you want to meet in real life and in her review says, "this is frankly one of the best books I have ever read."
May We Be Forgiven by A M Homes – the story of Harry whose life changed in one moment of madness. Harry is the older brother to George, who is a bully and a narcissist. One day George has a car accident then finds his brother in bed with his wife – so he murders her. In Kelly's review she says the story is dense but says, "this is just ‘life’ in a book… and I love it". Kelly is inspired by the author's style of writing and how she manages to tap into the characters thoughts and feelings.
Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton – A school is on fire and Grace knows her daughter is inside – so she runs into the burning building to rescue her. In Amanda's review she says, "Lupton is THE author to watch for gripping stories that explore human emotion in a very real and honest way". Amanda is inspired by Lupton because the storytelling is just immense and does not conform to any genre.
Just a few novels that inspire from the Novelicious team. What novels inspire you to want to be a better writer?