WHO INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

I write something everyday, and sometimes I do that without inspiration from anyone or anything.  I just do it because pecking out words on a keyboard makes me happy.  It's not an ego thing, not something I do to exorcise demons or impress anyone or anything like that.  Call me crazy, but I even talk to myself, and I don't like the sound of my own voice.  I'm not even particularly interested in anything I have to say either.  The only thing good that comes from talking to yourself is that sometimes what you say strikes you as stupid or off base - something you wouldn't want to say to anyone else.  Writing to yourself sometimes comes across the same way, and that's why they put the delete key on a keyboard . . . for people like me . . . and I  use it a lot.

Nobody in particular has ever really inspired me to write, but several authors have sure inspired me to read.  One of those authors is Dan Jenkins, a sportswriter and novelist.  Funny man, and fun to read.  And, he's a fellow Texan.  I loved his Baja Oklahoma story, partly because I lived in Oklahoma for a long time.  I loved Dead Solid Perfect, and several other novels he wrote.  I can't remember reading a single Sports Illustrated article by him, but I liked his books.  And even though you don't get much inspiration from reading other authors, there's no denying that what you read somehow turns up in what your write.  Many years ago, back in the 1980s, I read a rejection letter from a major publisher back east and was delighted when the editor compared my writing to that of Dan Jenkins . . . said I reminded her of him.  I took that as a compliment, even though I can't see much similarity between what I write and what Jenkins has written.

This is my 100th blog, and I'm writing it completely without inspiration and with little to say.  Just wanted to see the number roll up, I guess.  I'll probably write more, and I'll do so without caring where the words fly off to when I hit the publish button.  You never know when what you peck out will be the last thing you write, especially at my age.  I don't even care about that.  Writing blogs is like working out to stay in shape.  Before long, I'll finish several more novels and get them in print.  It's different with a book.  They're going to be around a long time after I'm gone.  I don't know where, but they'll be out there somewhere, and something I did in this life will still be alive.  And even if they die away in time, they still will have outlasted me.  I like that.