Inspiration isnt the right word, these pieces didnt spur me to creativity with some great blast of insight.
So here are things that helped me write this year.
Maybe theyll help you, or maybe theyll just kill some down time this holiday season.
Damnation Spring
Ash Davidson
This was one of my favorite books in recent memory.
Its a well-researched, well-written novel about the tail end of old-growth logging in California.
It doesnt hurt that the cover illustration is one of my favorite gouache paintings ever.
If you likeDamnation Spring, you should probably readBarkskinsby Annie Proulx.
Proulx is probably best known for the short storyBrokeback Mountainbut in my humble opinionBarkskinsis a magnum opus.
A Deadly Education
Naomi Novik
Im a sucker for good fantasy, andA Deadly Educationdelivers that in spades.
So you’re able to get a nice satisfying conclusion to the story.
No spoilers, but neither book spares readers any emotional gut punches.
All the Young Dudes
This is an article about a piece of fan fiction.
Im not generally a big lover of fanfic.
Leave the classics alone dang it all!
All the heavy lifting of world building has been done.
We know what all of these configs feel like.
Its free, and easy to download to any e-reader, and its long, really long.
Team Dicky
And now for something completely different!
I love me a classic blog.
Just a place to write long-ish form thoughts about whatever you happen to care about.
Team Dicky happens to care a lot about bikes.
Hes into a style of riding thats not really my jam.
I like gears and suspension and riding downhill a lot more than he does.
And this blog has been around for a long time, even as blogs continue to die off.
The linked post really struck a chord with me, as someone who spews words onto the internet regularly.
What happens when we stop?
If we die in the Metaverse do we die in real life?
Who knows, who cares, but if you like reading about bikes, Dicky is worth a follow.
Leclerc wasnt just one of the premier free-soloists of his time, he was also an excellent writer.
I love the matter-of-fact style he uses to describe his ridiculous first ascents.
Hes clear and concise, without ever being self-effacing or aggrandizing.
He comes across as intelligent and level-headed, with a very clear view of his abilities and his goals.
Leclerc manages to tell stories that are interesting regardless of your level of experience with climbing.
Meat Engines
First of all, the name is great.
The New Yorkers Jeremy Strong profile
I likeSuccession, and I dont typically like New Yorker style profiles.
They just get generic very quickly, similar to many profiles of professional skiers.
But this one is just brilliant.
It walks the line between being catty and insightful delightfully.
Its worth a read, even if you typically dont like these sorts of pieces.
Real critics have written more insightful things about this show.
All I can say is that it made me want to tell better stories, better.
I dont know, Im still processing this one.
But Im so thankful it happened, and that I got to see it.
Conclusion
On Sunday Ill have a roundup of things that made me want to draw things.
But for now, what did you read this year that really left an impact?
