Audio to Inspire

When I'm feeling down, uninspired I enjoy looking up audio recordings or videos of great authors either reading their work, or giving wisdom to other writers. It's as if I've invited Virginia Woolf to tea or asked for advice on my career from Katherine Center.

There is nothing like hearing well written or well thought out words come from someone you aspire to be like.

I've offered, below, some links I've come across that are my favorite. When you listen to their voices, rich and rhythmic, try to imagine them not reading the words, but rather, writing the words. Where were they when they wrote it? What was their frame of mind? What was happening around the world when they sat at their writing space?

Each of us, no matter who we are, has a voice to share. At one point Virginia Woolf, Dylan Thomas, Stephen King, and countless other writers have had ideas not yet expressed. Each of them sat, staring off into the sky, wondering if they would ever be able to capture what they wanted to say into words. No doubt all had their questions as to whether anyone would want to hear what they had to say.

May we all draw great encouragement from them. They all have so much to offer us, teach us. Will you let them inspire you?

What do you listen to, read, or watch when you want to be inspired? Share your ideas and experiences.

Video: (some of these are stills while the author reads, so more audio than anything.
John Irving ~ the novel
Stephen King - advice
Neil Gaiman~Advice for writers
John Steinbeck ~ why he wrote
James Joyce ~ reading Finnegans Wake
Robert Frost ~ The Road Not Taken


Audio:
"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"
Virgina Woolf's Voice
Sylvia Plath's Voice
Anne Sexton
Earnest Hemingway's Nobel Peace Prize Acception Speech