Hi Ian.

Thanks for this. It’s really interesting to hear how some of your stories have eventuated. I think your last paragraph sums things up well – stories we write are generated by stories we’ve absorbed ourselves, being conscious of where inspirations come from and most of all finding the essence of the inspiration from them – the vital thing as you call it (that’s very nice) – that a writer wants to emulate and explore in their own work.

I think you’re right about the exercise of trying to write like someone you admire and finding your own voice in there somewhere. That can be a useful thing to do. I kind of did that once in primary school, trying to write my own ‘What Katy did next’ stories. I’m not sure it was a great success but I remember enjoying writing them!

Thanks again,
Joanne