The AM Intrigue

Influence

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in
Daily writing prompt
Who are the biggest influences in your life?
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J.R.R. Tolkien undoubtedly has the grandest literary influence on me. I joke that I feel so much pressure in wanting to create the next Lord of the Rings – just a joke! I recently read his The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien and found that deeply inspiring; he gives some writing advice in there, and I’m in awe of how his brain works.

Politically, a lot of leftist streamers have a big influence on my life in shaping my worldview. Least cringe among them who I’m not embarrassed to admit is The Majority Report, who I can’t recommend enough. As someone who has been right-wing, I can tell you it’s much better over here and that hate is indeed the guiding principle over there. Fear me for I am woke, type shit.

How I walk through this reality of ours is largely an accumulation and filtering of my experiences and the media (mostly books) I consume. I love reading for that reason that it expands my worldview. I believe it was Atomic Habits that gave me that perspective of filtering, though it may have been Hidden Potential! I do recommend both of those works as they jumpstarted this creation arc that I’ve been in, for which I’m thankful; embracing my craft has done wonders for me – I feel more confident and more like myself.

Comments

One response to “Influence”

  1. piterpanaceum Avatar
    piterpanaceum

    It’s fascinating how you’ve woven together such diverse influences – from Tolkien’s mythic world-building to political commentary and self-development literature. Your journey across the political spectrum speaks to intellectual bravery, and your ability to acknowledge past beliefs while embracing new perspectives shows real growth. Tolkien’s letters indeed reveal a mind that balanced meticulous detail with profound vision, and that inspiration clearly fuels your own creative aspirations. The “accumulation and filtering” metaphor resonates strongly – it’s through this thoughtful curation of influences that we develop authentic voices. Your self-awareness about these processes is itself a form of wisdom worth celebrating.

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