Writers of the Past and Present
Miranda Alexander
Inspiration is everywhere. It lurks within the darkest of alleys and pursues our interest of mind. Though it has the will and strength to conquer any brain it desires, it is notorious for targeting those who pour their souls into writing. As masters of the pen, we find our control rather frail when it comes to resisting the siren call that is inspiration. Our hands become enslaved to its call and we have no choice but to scribble or type the words flashing in our minds. It is an odd, yet remarkable vision to behold, the unmistakable gleam in the eye of a writer thoroughly inspired.
While inspiration takes great pleasure in appearing to us in various ways and forms, I do believe that one of the most extraordinary forms of inspiration comes from the works of legendary writers. Literary masterminds such as William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and countless others. Regardless of education and preference of literature, I am certain we have all encountered these names at some point in our lives. Why are their works so prominent and what led them to write down the words we still read today? The answer: inspiration.
Yes, inspiration has been haunting the minds of creative individuals for centuries and it still seeks us out now. As a writer, I must confess I oftentimes find that my creativity is sparked by a novel, play, or poem by a writer of the past. Whether it is a sonnet or story that the inspiration manifests from, I do not even attempt to put up a fight against its magnetic pull. I surrender and unleash every thought onto paper until my brain is satisfied.
While these actions may appear to be natural and harmless, there are critics in the literary world that declare otherwise. The most noted objection concerns the originality of a writer’s work when it is influenced by the words of another. Some opposing parties insist that a writer must produce their own ideas with no other textual influence to aid them. My thoughts on the matter fall upon a gray area. Is originality vital? Absolutely. Should we avoid the influence of renowned authors and poets when it comes to our work? Not at all.
As long as we maintain our integrity as writers and refuse to fall prey to the toxic trap of plagiarism, we should feel free to be inspired by writers of the past. We should not be pressed by the impending possibility of being labeled as “unoriginal” or “uninspired”. For we all possess several unique and astonishing ideas just waiting to be unearthed from the depths of our imaginations. God crafted each of us to be original from one another, so surely our ideas are as original as we are in every aspect.
I am confident that I will remain under the ever watchful eye of inspiration till the second I draw my last breath. Though I may not know when I will fade from earth into eternity, I will strive to always embrace inspiration and the words I reap from its voice. If my words and poems one day inspire the heart of a young writer, then perhaps my voice will join the influential echoes of the past.
One thought on “Writers of the Past and Present”
I remember in high school one of my English teachers told us when we were working on a poetry unit, “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.” He was referring to the poem that we were supposed to imitate the form of, but I think that this saying applies to your post, as well. Just because you imitate or take inspiration from a certain work or writer does not mean you are unoriginal, as long as you are not straight up copying them. Plagiarism definitely is wrong; imitation, on the other hand, is simply a version of inspiration.