Current Interests
Here is a list of things that have inspired me. I hope you find them inspiring as well.
I do happen to work in technology. Specifically in Customer Success in an IT company. Some of these are business related. Some are in the self help genre, but I have found inspiration in everything from self-help, to Epic fantasy, to murder mystery and everything in between. In my opinion, inspiration can come at any time and from anywhere. Enjoy!
I have written my thoughts on each recommendation below. Just click on the image to see what I have to say about them.
Note: If you use the links below, I may make a small commission from the proceeds. Thanks for supporting me! Seriously... we writers can use it.
The Name of the Wind 10th Anniversary Illustrated Edition by Patrick Rothfuss
Patrick Rothfuss is, in my humble opinion, a titan of epic fantasy. He is the epitome of prose. His writing is eloquent, and poetic; as if each and every word was painstakingly chosen for that specific sentence. He has not even a single "limping verse" in his novels.
When I want to investigate proper word usage and placement, Word-Master Rothfuss is the one I look to for inspiration.
Here is but a snippet from his novel "The Wise Man's Fear" to pique your interest in his novels:
"I saw Fela turn her head to look at Simmon, almost as if she were surprised to see him sitting there.
No, it was almost as if up until that point, he'd just been occupying space around her, like a piece of furniture. But this time when she looked at him, she took all of him in. His sandy hair, the line of his jaw, the span of his shoulders beneath his shirt. This time when she looked, she actually *saw* him."
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
A note about our dear friend Patrick Rothfuss who―to those who don't take the time to investigate―spends a great portion of his precious time with his family, and on humanitarian projects. He is truly a good, honest, and genuine human being to whom I give my utmost respect: Patrick hasn't released the third book of "The Kingkiller Chronicles" yet. If you are new to reading his novels, please know that you will be destroyed in any thread that you posit a question asking when the third book will be released. Patrick seems to forget that people are introduced to his book almost every day. Not everyone hopping on his twitter feed an avid fan yet, and many of them are curious when he'll be releasing the third part of his amazing series.
You have been warned.
Kings Dark Tidings Series by Kel Kade
Kel Kade has written some amazingly interesting series. "Kings Dark Tidings" gripped me from the start and I'm currently working my way through the series.
Her setting and plot are what drive me to continue reading.
I have found a lot of inspiration while listening to this series. Her setting is familiar, and yet unique. A young man taken from childhood and raised as an assassin, a rogue, a noble, a commoner, a king, and more all wrapped up into one beautiful and honorable man.
The story has been fun to read and introduces new and exciting plot twists and turns of setting with each new book.
Something that I often look for in what I consider to be my favorite novels is a sense of morality. I shouldn't say that my morality matches the standard quo, but I find this book to deliver a good message of what it means to be a good person.
Here is a snippet from her novel:
“If you must belittle others to make yourself feel better, then you should do silently, in your own mind, where only you will suffer from your poison.”
― Kel Kade, Reign of Madness
Gravity Falls ― Disney XD. Television. Created by Alex Hirsch
Gravity Falls will forever be one of my all time favorite TV shows.
If you're an adult and think this show is just for children, you. are. wrong.
This TV series likely has more subtle nuance, intricate details, plot twists, and secrets than any sitcom or drama you are currently watching. If you don't believe me, pay attention to the moments just after the theme song finishes playing. Notice that weird whisper? Now you do? Okay, record it and play it backwards.
"Well that's just dumb, Zac". Okay, I'll give you more: at the end of each episode there is a cipher with clues about where the series is going. Still not enough?
If you are a Rick and Morty Fan like I am, rewatch the episode "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind" and pay attention when Rick opens up a bunch of portals to other dimensions in the cliffside while trying to escape. One of the portals spits out a mug with a question mark, a pen, and a notepad. Now watch the Gravity Falls Episode "Society of the Blind Eye", During the episode's ending credits gag. Stan loses those three exact things which fly into the portal before him.
I love universal crossovers like this. It's a subtle touch that just adds so much to both series. Gravity Falls, in my opinion is wholesome and fun for everyone.
Expeditionary Force Series by Craig Alanson
Craig Alanson has done a fantastic job with this series. The comedy throughout the series is just what I need some days.
This Space Fleet Science Fiction Thriller has taken so many twists and turns throughout the series that I have no idea where we're going to end up. Every once in a while Craig drops a "bomb" that piques my interest and keeps me reeling for more. Unlike some of my other favorite authors, Craig frantically writes books like a captain on a deep sea fishing boat racing a storm to shore.
His writing is not as poetic as some of the other books on this list, but they are fun. But that's not to say that they don't contain their moments of sheer sadness and torment. In this series, the mysteries keep piling onto the storyline higher and higher and keep me coming back for more.
In this series, you can find love interests, friendships, betrayal, loyalty, space flight, space fights, and even learn a thing or two about the science space travel and the theories behind black holes along the way.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
If you are are a nerd and you're looking for a nostalgic trip, look no further. (In my opinion: stick to the book. Skip the movie).
Ernest has created a work of art here with a book that can give any reader a taste of 70s, 80s, and 90s pop culture. For those of us who lived through that time, it is a wonderful blast from the past wrapped up in a novel taking place in a corporate dystopia in the not-so-distant future.
By the year 2045, humanity has managed to bring the world to the brink of destruction and the only place to find solace inside in the Oasis; Humanity hides behind their VR visors from their sad lives through this online universe. The creator has died and he is giving away his fortune and his company to the first person who is smart enough to find his hidden easter egg somewhere inside the vast Oasis.
But the essence of the game is being threatened by a corporate coup from a competitor who is utilizing loopholes to cheat their way through the race to the egg.
Will Wade Watts and his friends be able figure out the complicated riddles and find the egg before the corporate villains gain control of the Oasis, or will they lose sight of their friendship and be distracted from their goal? Read it and find out.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Read by Stephen Fry: Amazon/Audible Link
One of the best audiobooks I've had the pleasure of listening to is this collected works read by Stephen Fry.
Stephen Fry gives insight and background to many of the stories. He also gives his own personal background behind his love of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
If you have ever tried to read or listen to any Sherlock Holmes adventures and could never quite get into it, this audiobook narrated by Stephen Fry may be just what you need to finally make the jump. Stephen Fry is one of my all time favorite narrators, and he does not disappoint in this 60+ hour long series.
Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition ― Wizards of the Coast, 2014
Nerd time! I absolutely love Dungeons and Dragons. I love both playing and DM-ing. If this isn't a source of inspiration then I don't know what is. Beyond that, It's simply a fun way to get together with friends. I have used this to help kids that I work with to develop social skills and to help them understand social situations by creating NPCs who specifically put them into teachable scenarios.
One thing that I want to mention since this is a site about the process of writing is: please don't write your book like a DnD campaign. I have read some books that read like someone copied and pasted their friend's DnD campaign and have never enjoyed the way the books read.
With that caveat, I particularly like the brainstorming that goes into DM-ing for a group. That same brainstorming process of "what can I make the characters do next" can very much come in handy when you are stuck in a spot in your writing.
My process is not random. Many DMs simply roll a die to decide what creature the party will come across. I don't do that. I take into account what the party has picked up, what they have come across so far, the goals of the party members, and read the Monster Manual and the DM guide to find something that could fit into their current scenario.
Betrayal at House on the Hill 2nd Edition– Hasbro Gaming, 2004. By Bruce Glassco
Betrayal is an extremely well rounded adventure game the is different every time you play. There are 50 individual "Betrayals" (an additional 50 if you download a popular free PDF that an avid fan created, and another 50 if you purchase the expansion) that you can play through. Beyond that, the game layout is different each time you play because you "build the mansion" as you move around the board.
Because of the uniqueness in its gameplay and the fact that there are so many different stories to play, I have a lot of fun every time we get it out of the game closet.