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If you could write like one author, who would it be and why?

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Philip Pullman, because I love his descriptiveness and the way he draws you in so much so that you can't put the book down and are still thinking about it years after reading it.

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I wish I could write like:

Wally Lamb, I Know This Much is True. It truly moved me. I accidentally stumbled upon it.

Jennifer Lauck, Blackbird and the sequel. It makes you alternate between tears and anger. What a memoir. WOW!

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I would love to write like Ann Rule!! She takes you into the crime scene...you can actually see the scene she is discussing and how it plays out. Her descriptions of the people, the areas, and the crimes are all very vivid.

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Ayn Rand. Her books were hard to put down and SO convincing!

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I would love to be able to write like Jodi Picoult. She takes a social issue and fictionalizes it, but researches the subject and interjects fact with fiction. Then on top of that, she has surprise endings that I usually don't see coming. Great author!

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Definitely John Irving in his The Cider House RulesA Prayer for Owen Meany and A Son of the Circus vibe. He blows me away!

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I would like to write like J.K. Rowling because she has such a vivid imagination. The world of Harry Potter has not failed to enthrall me ever since I read the first few sentences of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Sometimes I think I may be the oldest living Harry Potter fan with no children to have inspired me to read the series.

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I would write fiction like Shelby Foote. While his descriptions are wonderful, he still writes in a concise way. The narrative moves along. He can give you the background and baggage of a character in a page and a half and then just get on with the story.

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Pat Conroy. The most beautiful language.

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Danielle Steele or Mary Higgins Clark.
I would like to write like either woman because apparently the millions of readers/fans out there want to spend money buying their books and that would be the dream of any author!!! Rich and knowing that "everyone" has read your books --- from teens to elders!

On second thought, let me write like J.K. Rowling and I would be happy!!

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I would like to be able to write like Dan Brown. He has a wonderful grasp of history and the ability to make the story come to life.

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I wish I could write like Jack Higgins. His plots are good, he's a good storyteller, and his characters are well developed and imaginable.

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Suzanne Brockmann. I am in awe at her organization, characterization and ability to keep me involved in the story.

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Nelson DeMille. He's the most interesting and entertaining author I've read. Humorous --- Intense --- Passionate --- and yet, Technical. I have read all of his books and can't wait for the next.

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The writer I would love to write like would be Jeffery Deaver. His plot starts out laying the ground work, then builds into the story and keeps building until the climax. His research is always done well and the way he outlines a story is really unbelievable. There are many fine authors, but I think his books are really the best!!

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William Goldman. Breadth of writing in many genres. True understanding of human nature. He is a prolific writer with words that draw the reader in. I admire him more than any other modern day writer.

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If I could write like any one author it would be J.K. Rowling. She has such imagination, wit, humor and command of words. Her characters come alive as do the backgrounds. I love the way she sneaks in alliterations and other word plays, too. If I could write like that, I would feel truly blessed.

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That would be a toss-up between Barbara Delinsky and Nora Roberts. Great stories and wonderful characters!!!

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I would write like Mary Kay Andrews because I love mysteries and I have a very biting wit, so the dialogue would be delicious. I loved Savannah Blues and can't wait to read Little Bitty Lies.

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If I could write like one author, I would have to say I would want to write like Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the famous author ofDon Quixote. The reason I would like to write like him is because he was an innovator. He was way ahead of his times. He was able to fool the strict Religious censors of his time by telling his story in such a way that they were not able to recognize his mockery of them. He also created the famous Don Quixote; this book, other than the Bible, is one of the most popular books to be sold EVER. He also created a character who was far more superior than any other of his times. Was Don Quixote a madman driven by his delusions?

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra created a memorable book and character that has withstood the test of time. Cervantes also was the first to write a story that contained another story within it. That's why I would love to write like this author. He was pure genius.

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Margaret Mitchell. Her Gone With the Wind was perfectly written.

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Janet Evanovich. I really enjoy her humor.

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Susan Howatch has such a mastery of character and brilliant sense of irony and humor. She writes clever books about interesting characters in career situations.

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I would write like Jane Austen. She painted vivid pastel (if that is really possible) word pictures, and the use of the language is melodic. A more contemporary choice would be James Michener for a similar reason: the images carry one away to the location and time of the story.

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I would write like Pat Conroy. His sentences are so poetic and I read EVERY ONE of them, unlike some authors who I tend to read quickly.

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Mary Higgins Clark, because I read all her books. I started reading her when I was in high school and my reading teacher suggested her to me. From then on I have been an avid reader of her books and, of course, others.

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I'd like to be able to write as well as Graham Greene. He set a standard for many other authors, both in the "entertainments" and serious novels that he wrote.

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I do a little writing now, but if I could write like a well known author, it would be Rosamunde Pilcher. Her characters, settings and plots are full of grace and wonder and joy as well as heartache and healing. Second would be Maeve Binchy. I'd also like to write for children like Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones (The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids) and the many authors who write as Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew series).

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If I could write like one author it would be Harper Lee. The eloquence of To Kill a Mockingbird amazes me every time I read it. She evokes such incredible emotions through the eyes of Scout. It would be a wonderful gift to write like Ms. Lee.

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I would say Elizabeth Berg. I admire and enjoy the simpleness of her writing. Not that it is not thought-provoking, but she tells great stories of everyday life that are a joy to read and easy to relate to. I would also have to say Lorna Landvik. Her style is similar to Elizabeth Berg's. I have tried to read everything by both of these authors since discovering them a few years ago and can honestly say I have relished every single book.

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I would write like Pat Conroy. His prose in Beach Music was fascinating. Also Barbara Kingsolver has a wonderful way with words.

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Ian McEwan's Atonement is one of the best books I have ever read, and I am a 12th grade English teacher!

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Isabel Allende. She has such a wonderful, flowing way with words.

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If I could write like one author it would Janet Evanovich. I love humor and her characters are hilarious, especially Grandma Mazur. Janet makes thousands of readers laugh. What a gift to be able to do that. I would love to be able to write like her.

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I would love to write like Judith Michael. Her books are so good you can't put them down.

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Barbara Kingsolver. Her prose can be poetic, her dialogue scathing, and her plots, captivating. Although I don't love everything she has written, I do love reading and assimilating her writing.

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Wallace Stevens (poet), Deborah Crombie or Martha Grimes (mystery writers), or Virginia Woolf.

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Janet Fitch or Rohinton Mistry

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Ann Patchett in her book Bel Canto. I just loved the way she wrote, with the plot setting, the weaving together of the different characters, cultures represented and their motivations. Wonderful book and great writing!

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Elizabeth Berg, because she writes the way people think! She rocks!

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It is very difficult picking just one, as there are several that are terrific! D.W. Buffa, Michael Connelly, John Dunning, Lee Gruenfeld, Fredrick Huebner, and Sheldon Siegel are at the very top of my list, but number one at this time is John Martel. His books are long, which normally might not be a good thing, but he makes every page interesting. He has the ability to transform his knowledge of the legal profession to paper and weave it into great plots. So today John Martel is #1.

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I'd love to be able to write like Stephen King. He constantly amazes me in his ability to make the most day-to-day, mundane things so frightening. In one book, it's lost pet posters; in another one, clowns with balloons. He continues to surprise and scare! A great thing for a horror writer, of course.

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I would love to be able to write like the late James Michener. His ability to research his subjects and make his fictional characters seem real have always fascinated me. I believe I have read everything he has written --- some books several times.

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I would love to write like Nelson DeMille. I thoroughly enjoy his books because he has the knack of combining drama with an underlying humor throughout. I think that's definitely a clever writing tool, and when I write my first novel I would like to emulate his style. LOL.

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If I could write like a particular author, I'd choose to write like Chris Bohjalian, a special friend and author of MidwivesThe Law of SimilarsTrans-Sister RadioThe Buffalo Soldier, and Water Witches, as well as other titles currently out of print. Chris writes with feeling about current issues that he has thoroughly researched. As he says, he writes about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Chris is a very caring person, and this clearly comes through in his writing. That is what I would wish to emulate if I were writing a work of fiction.

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Janet Evanovich. Her books are hilarious and entertaining --- the types of books that can make you smile when everything is falling apart around you.

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If I could write like any one author, my choice would be Jan Karon. She develops such wonderful characters and scenery.

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The author would be Dan Brown. His book, The Da Vinci Code, is awesome. I would love to have the expertise and creativity that he exhibits in this book. I hope he is planning another book soon.

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If I could write like any author ever known it would have to be Anais Nin. From her short stories to her journal entries to her explicitly passionate love letters written to Henry Miller, I adore her work. She was one of the strongest women of her time. She didn't give in to any one, especially men, yet always had many men around for her sexual trysts or to philosophize with --- and she controlled which role these men would play in her life.

I am so enthralled by her lust and passion for life and writing. Whenever I read one of her stories or letters/poems, I find myself passionately in love with each sentence. Her eloquent words knew no boundaries; they simply flowed from here like water from a spout. I would love to write with such passion and beauty that it moved people towards love and passion, as well as sadness and tears. That is a talent I have yet to achieve. So my vote is for Anais Nin of Paris and the U.S. Not to mention the many other places I'm sure she visited and left her mark on as well.

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J.K. Rowling. No author I have ever read has a better imagination.

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Manette Ansay. She writes with clarity, imagination and honesty.

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I would like to be able to write a fraction as well as Michael Shaara. He has gotten me excited about American History. George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and other historical figures come to life.

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I would have to cheat. I want to write like Stephen King about the stuff John Grisham uses in his novels. I don't want to write horror, but I love the way King puts together sentences and the way he builds to certain levels in his stories. I just wish they didn't scare the beegeebies out of me!

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If I could write like any author I would choose J.D. Robb. She brings her characters to life. You can almost picture them. Her In Death series is one of the best I have ever read. Waiting for the next one to come out is almost painful. I hate to finish it knowing that it will be a while until the next one. Yet, I can't wait to finish them to see how they end.

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If I could write like one author? Hmm, that sounds like a tough question since there are a few I would only dream I could write like. For one, I would like to write like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which sounds so very ambitious. But I think I would like to write like him because I wish I had the ability to evoke magic and daily life in a way that is full of wonder and amazement. I would like to be able to write passages of fiction in which readers would lose themselves, and then come out at the end of a book with a sense of awe.

If not Marquez, then maybe like Oscar Hijuelos, whose novels have an incredible sense of longing and place. He has the ability to make a reader be at the place he describes, to smell the foods, to visualize what he sees and be moved by the narratives.

As I said, this is not an easy choice. There are so many others I could think of, such as Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez, or even Ann Patchett.

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Ray Bradbury. He is simply the best at using language to evoke a mood, to describe a visual image, and to convey an emotion. His writing is imaginative and always fresh, and has endured through the decades where other authors have come and gone.

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Fyodor Dostoyevsky. To be able to combine suspense and intrigue along with the moral dilemmas of 19th century with a great knowledge of history, psychology and sociology makes him one of the greatest, if not the greatest (my opinion), author of all time.

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I would like to write like Sharyn McCrumb. She is a storyteller. She spins the tales of the Southern mountains in a way that is familiar to me and holds me spellbound.

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I would love to be able to write like Dick Francis, building suspense and developing strong characters who overcome adversity in the British horse and jockey world. I'm afraid we won't be seeing anything more from my favorite author who must now be in his 70s or 80s. Does anyone know? I've read and reread him for the past 25 years and have always enjoyed his mysteries.

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I would most like to write like Anne Rice. I feel she is an amazing writer with a phenomenal imagination and foresight of making her characters come alive. I have never read anything that has come close to her Vampire Chronicles and feel she is truly gifted.

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If I could write like one author, I would most like to choose Diana Gabaldon for a variety of reasons. Her characters are people you picture as having lifelong histories and are whole because of them. The emotions she paints of her characters are pure and real, never perfect or fake. She can ring out their native tongues in your ears without straining your mind to learn their languages. Her words can describe the ecstasy of lovers' passion together and heartbreak in parting, the joys of childbirth, and the burden of letting a man slip more quickly to death. She brings a reader up close to action and thought with accuracy and description that is easily identifiable in the mind's eye without being overwhelmed with dull words. She can detail a panorama without using a thesaurus. She brings fact, fiction and fantasy together with a blend that mixes with such a brush that, like a fine paint, there is no distinction in the color.

In her thousands of pages of fiction, I've seldom been aware of her as the writer once immersed in her characters. Some authors write with a style that is so distracting that the words themselves are part of the problem --- like a distraction in a movie theater draws your attention from the screen. There's nothing more enjoyable than a writer I know who can entertain me for hundreds of pages without fail (over and over again) because her writing is so smooth and elegant, so detailed and flawless, the story becomes greater than the words themselves.

In my mind, that one could be lost in the words is what makes a writer great, and why I would (and do) aim to write as Diana Gabaldon writes.

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If I could write like one author, that author would be Terry Pratchett because he writes with such humor and imagination and satirizes many issues that I feel are important, especially today.

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I would like to be Nora Roberts. Her writing is phenomenal, and her range of topics and genres is unreal! And as soon as you think she's written as much as she can and still be as good, she comes back with something terrific. That's real, exceptional talent!!

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S.V. Date. His satirical style really hits home when you live in Central Florida.

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If I could write like one author (who is alive today), it would be Alice Hoffman. Her word choice is perfect. Her imagery is divine. No one, in my mind, can tell a story like she can. I have never read a story by Alice Hoffman that I didn't like. She is amazing, and I strive to be half the writer she is one day.

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I LOVE the way that Jennifer Lauck writes. Her writing is very true to life and makes you feel like you can totally SEE what she's writing about. She's excellent at SHOWING and not TELLING. I was told once that I write similar to her and that was just a total surprise! I had not read anything of hers before and so I found BOTH of her books and read them…and I DO! I love her. She's my vote.

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I would like to be able to write like Sara Paretsky. Her mysteries contain interesting character detail and are quite readable. The plots are well thought out and don't seem contrived. She appears knowledgeable about the subject matter in her books. Since she takes time between books (sometimes too much), her work seems fresh. I have read that her background is academic, and her writing is serious yet light enough to keep my attention; I always eagerly await a new Sara Paretsky book. She shines in a now very crowded field of women mystery writers, which is quite a feat in itself.

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I would write like Danielle Steele. The stories she weaves are rich and full, and there is always a twist. She doesn't just write romance, she writes about lives and families. She has touched on different eras in history as well as writing in the present day, which I find refreshing. When I pick up one of her books I never know where I am going to be, which country or which time!

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My choice would be Lawrence Block, and I like best the Matthew Scudder stories. When Scudder mulls over the ingredients of whatever case he is working on, the thoughts seem to ramble and drift while, in reality, he is drawing a conclusion, and by his gift as a writer, I always feel a part of the process. Another factor is his ability to write in characters and keep them present in his books from story to story --- people such as Mick Ballou, TJ, Joe Durkin, and Elaine continue to evolve.

I have great respect for his ability to grow a whole life system, mature his characters and continue to keep them meaningful and relevant to his story lines.

Every two or three years, I reread all the Scudder books and always enjoy them thoroughly. They are never boring.

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The author I would like to write like is Rod Serling. I LOVE those twist endings and the thinking "out of the box."

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If I could write like one author, it would be Honore de Balzac. His style is very descriptive but not so to the point that there is nothing left for the imagination. After reading one of his books, I feel as if I have been transported back in time to those events and places. Balzac was an excellent classic writer and lives on in his works.

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I would love to write like John Grisham. Some aspects (the legal research) of his book The Rainmaker absolutely fascinated me, while at the same time I completely disagreed with the whole love story plot line. I just wanted to shake Grisham and say, "What were you thinking???" I did actually consider trying to write him just after I first read the book, but figured the chances of him actually reading my letter were slim to none. Probably should have attempted it anyway, huh?

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I would like to write like Anne McCaffrey. She is a fantasy author whose books are full of colorful characters. She brings many types of creatures to life and makes me care for them as if they were real. I especially like her Pern novels, mind reading dragons, glorious battles against "thread," and the people that struggle for survival blend to create a world that sometimes seems as real as the one we live in today. I think that is what makes an interesting and challenging author.

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Barbara Kingsolver in The Poisonwood Bible. In that particular work, her prose paints powerful images and creates lasting scenes and characters I ponder again and again.

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I would like to write like Robert B. Parker. I'm a huge mystery fan and I love series books, but the best part of Parker is his ability to write great dialogue. I've tried to write now and then over the years, and I can come up with the plot but my dialogue is "awful" LOL.

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Donald Barthelme, the late great surrealist. His peculiar brand of off-the-wall, erudite humor tunnels deep into my grey matter --- he influences me like a master does his pupil. A close second would be Raymond Carver, the anode to Barthelme's cathode, a writer who built sentences out of two-by-fours and nails.

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If I could write like any author it would be Toni Morrison. She is a prolific writer who has thought-provoking messages that stand the test of time. Her themes and images are not only African American but are truly male and female, and about being human. She reaches all readers and, therefore, has produced modern American classics.

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I would love to write like Laura Hillenbrand. She keeps one's interest in the story as if one were living it and really has done a beautiful biography of not only Seabiscuit but also the people involved in his life.

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Nora Roberts, because readers would love my books.

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If I could write like one author, it would be Wallace Stegner. I love the way his writing does more than just create plot or character, but gets to the universal, the essential and the poetic.

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I'd like to be able to write like Nora Roberts. She creates characters that have you feeling like they're your old friends by the end of the book. She writes the kind of story line that makes you wish the book would never end. She can give you a story line that will scare you to death, make you laugh, feel sad, happy, or so "hot" you can hardly wait for your partner to come home from work. The lady has talent with a capital "T".

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Sarah Ban Breathnach. What prompted your search of a simpler life and what provided your insight?

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I would love to write like Rosamunde Pilcher. Her style is so smooth. You really care about the characters because they are so real. Reading one of her books is like going away to live in her world. Just like any vacation, the time goes by so quickly that, before you know it, you have read the whole book.

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I would want to be able to write like Ayn Rand. Because she was a perfectionist, she viewed one life lesson within her characters strengths. It may be not be honorable to be poor; however there are too many things to list that money can't buy. She proved that "Character is what you do when no one else is looking." (Anonymous) Her characters are alive and well, however by far too few living in our would.

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My answer would definitely be Nelson DeMille. I love the plots he develops as well as the repartee between the main character, who is usually some weathered macho man, and the young confident attractive female involved in the story.

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I would like to write like Kimberla Lawson Roby.

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Tom Robbins, because of the great charm and humor in his writing style.

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If I could write like one author it would be Kristin Hannah. She knows how to hold your attention from beginning to end.

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Mary Higgins Clark. I just like her style of writing. She seems to me the writer I want to be. Stories seem to come easy for her and her books are always good. I have read all her books.

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Unfortunately she's no longer with us, but my favorite author of all time is Norah Lofts and I'd definitely write like her if I could. She wrote about all kinds of subjects and places. I can reread books that she wrote 50 years ago and find them still totally enjoyable.

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I would write like Anita Shreve. She paints pictures with words, and literally transports you to the places where her characters are actually living. I read Sea Glass and The Pilot's Wife, and the scenes of the beach and of the small towns were just brought to life by her writing. Her characters appear almost as real people who you may have met.

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If I could write like any one author it would be Anne Tyler. She gets the point across in a gentle but direct way, she writes in an easy-to-read style, and I've always come away from one of her books having enjoyed it and wishing that it didn't have to end. She's a good read, and I always look for new works from her.

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For the beauty of her writing, Alice McDermott --- but really, Diana Gabaldon. No one else is able to put words together in such a way that I am transported to another time and place.

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If I could write like one author it would be Tom Robbins. He turns the most ordinary things into something interesting and always leaves you thinking about life and the objects surrounding you.

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Jan Karon. Her work is crafted in such a way as to draw you into the literal lives of the characters. I "feel" her work.

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If I could write like any author, I would choose Janet Evanovich. Although many might consider her books light fare, what I love about her writing is her descriptions of characters and their dialogue. When I start reading one of her books, it's like having a television turned on in my head. I can see each of the characters, I hear their voices (complete with the 'Joisey' accent!), I see what they are wearing, and what they are driving (assuming that it hasn't been blown up or torched!) It's like going to see a movie with your favorite actors in it, except if you went to see one of these movies, you'd get thrown out of the theater because you'd be laughing so hard!

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Amy Tan. I don't just read her writing, I feel it. It is subtle, yet very powerful.

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I would like to write like Nora Roberts. She somehow seems to make all of her books related. I have read about 50 of her novels and plan on owning the rest within the next year.

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James Lee Burke

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If I could write like any writer, it would be John Irving because his books are so sweeping and beautiful. Every one of them just drops you into a world that's nothing like your life, and yet it's so real you feel like you've actually known these people and been to these places. That's what I wish my writing could do.

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If I could write like one author it would be like Sydney Sheldon, because he writes on a variety of topics and his hero is usually a woman who must overcome great odds.