and do you ever ask yourself

[Axanderdeath]

I think I get to influenced by the writers I read and my writing is just copying they way writers I read write, or am I wrong—is there a constant to my writing? Or do I just sound like Kerouac, P.K. Dick, Dave Eggers, Chuck Palahniuk, Tom Waits, Charles Bukowski, and others, but I think those are the main ones—the most recent eggers, who I am not even sure that I like, but can write well enough to influence.

[Doreen Peri]

Well, Geoff, with a statement like that, you certainly have the self assuredness to succeed as a writer.

[lovingpenfull]

You can't not be influenced, everything has already been done before, in this expanding and contracting universe all forms have already come and gone an infinate amount of times, it is the arrangement of the space in between those forms which can be new; anything you write will be new because it is you writing it, even if the style is not something you came up with, in fact sometimes you think you've innovated some style, indeed you came up with it on your own, only to later find that it has already been done; it is the mix of previously used styles that can be particular to you, that is what I think, and while your doing that something truely your own will come about

[gypsyjoker]

Sunds good, "nothing new under the sun" and all that, but I think there is always a first time. Homer for example. Yes we stand on the shoulders of those gone before, but new stuff happens all the time, that is why I like evolution, constant change and flux. A god who plays craps with the universe. A creator who delights in playing hide and seek. I am not very well read, so I have no idea who you sound like Geoff. You sound like Geoff to me.

[Axanderdeath]

it is just I felt that I was maybe copying a little too much the last couple. but what ever--I agree with what -penful- said, whole heartedly. Just thought it be a good topic for discusion. You know.

[gypsyjoker]

yes I really like that eyewitness report by lovingpenful about re-thinking live in the moment eastern tradition. Kind of a cultural anthropology paper on the waste full culture of a group of people somewhere in Asia.

Somehow I got to look bothways when I cross the street. Driving west into the rising sun.