I owe my love for reading and writing to the New York Public Library. Without them, I would not have discovered the beauty of storytelling. The librarians helped me find books and movies I could not afford at the time. Lautréamont, Arthur Rimbaud, The Beat Generation, and The French New Wave cinema were early inspirations. I read and watched anything I could by those artists. Each of their works was engaging and presented me with an enticing and eclectic world— the reality that writing was a viable and fun outlet for creativity seemed possible.
The writers that continue to influence my writing are Frank O’Hara, Ron Padgett, Rod Serling, and Quentin Tarantino. Each of these writers has allotted me the opportunity to explore and improve my writing and creativity. O’Hara’s personal tone and frankness and Padgett’s playfulness and humor often radiate and inspire my poems. Tarantino’s dialogue and vivacious characters bring me pleasure and invigorate me, especially when I am reading his screenplays while drinking my proverbial black cup of coffee.
Two books that endure their influence on my writing and creativity are Frank O’Hara’s “Lunch Poems” and Jim Carroll’s “Living at the Movies.” I enjoy the rhythm, wordplay, and humor each of these poets employ. O’Hara’s writing is engaging, conversational and feels like you are speaking to a close friend. Also, his depiction of his day-to-day life in New York is always charming to read. Carroll’s “Living at The Movies” contains imagery that is lucid and full of humor, which rarely fails to bring a smile to my face, specifically with his observations of living in the Lower East Side and his musings of movies and poets.
Lastly, I continue to have a literary camaraderie with these artists and appreciate their influence on my writing and life. I hope my writing has the same effect and has the strength to endure.
