Are You Ready to Unleash Your Inner Creative Genius?
Photo by Iñaki del Olmo
Continuing on your creative journey is easier than you think!
If you’re looking for a way to unleash your creativity, why not immerse yourself in the work of a master author?
In a recent article, I discussed ways to expand your creativity. While I didn’t hold anything back, diving into novels that demonstrate ingenuity and imagination might be another path toward higher realms of creativity.
Great authors are known for their imagination, and some of them are so creative that they have changed the face of literature. So, the following lists showcase collections of novels that may jump-start your passion or at least push you toward giving in to the madness and getting creative on your own.
And don’t worry. I don’t have any “affiliate links,” so the following links merely allow you to visit these books on Amazon. Most of these authors either redefined the world of fiction, created a new genre, or totally set the pace for their peers.
Take a look!
First: Here are my Top 10 novels guaranteed to stimulate your imagination.
I selected these novels for their impact and the way each teaches something new about life or takes the reader on a journey to another world. Every book on this list is so creative, it may well change the way you think about writing.
More than any other, these authors have used their creativity to push boundaries and make you believe that anything is possible with words. While all authors strive to weave a narrative that entertains, enlightens, and engages, these novels go one step further by challenging the way we think about the power of writing itself.
With that said, here are my top ten must-read novels!
- #1: Anthony Doerr: All the Light We Cannot See
- #2: Harper Lee: To Kill A Mockingbird
- #3: John Knowles: A Separate Peace
- #4: Jack London: The Call of the Wild
- #5: Charles Palliser: The Quincunx
- #6: Herman Wouk: The Caine Mutiny
- #7: Umberto Eco: Foucault’s Pendulum
- #8: Alexandre Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo
- #9: Kenneth Grahame: The Wind in the Willows
- #10: Trevanian (Rodney William Whitaker): Shibumi
Tired of Reality?
In addition to being a genre of books and movies, science fiction is a way of thinking about our world. Science fiction writers explore the future and how new technologies change our lives. We also ask big questions about the nature of humanity and our place in the universe. When writing, we let our imaginations run wild, while still providing a believable story. And, if we’re lucky, our stories may also inspire people to think about the world around them in new ways and consider possibilities for the future.
After studying science fiction and fantasy for over 50 years, here are my TOP 25 novels guaranteed to take you … elsewhere! And yes … I know I’ve skipped Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling. No kidding. These books are just shockingly better!
#1: Neal Stephenson: Anathem.
#2: Vernor Vinge: A Deepness in the Sky
#3: Frank Herbert: Dune
#4: Sheri S. Tepper: The Gate to Women’s Country
#5: Robert Silverberg: A Time of Changes
#6: Dan Simmons: Hyperion
#7: C.J. Cherryh’s Wave Without a Shore.
#8: C.L. Moore: Vintage Season.
#9: Ursula K. LeGuin: The Dispossessed
#10: Lois Lowry: The Giver
#11: Walter M. Miller Jr.: A Canticle for Leibowitz
#12: Daniel Keyes: Flowers for Algernon
#13: Vernor Vinge: A Fire Upon the Deep
#14: Gene Wolfe: The Shadow of the Torturer (Series: The Book of the New Sun)
#15: Guy Gavriel Kay: The Summer Tree (Series: The Fionavar Tapestry)
#16: Roger Zelazny: Nine Princes in Amber (Series: The Chronicles of Amber)
#17: Julian May: The Many-Colored Land (Series: The Saga of Pliocene Exile)
#18: David Eddings: Pawn of Prophecy (Series: The Belgariad)
#19: Laini Taylor: Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
#20: Neal Stephenson: Cryptonomicon
#21: Octavia Butler: Dawn
#22: Neal Stephenson: Snow Crash
#23: Arthur C. Clarke: Rendezvous with Rama
#24: David Brin: Startide Rising
#25: Robert A. Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
And one more: Isaac Asimov: The middle third (only) of The Gods Themselves
And why not check some of my stories?
While I am not comparing my work to the masterpieces noted above, here’s an extra set of links to my work. As of January 2022, we’re revising everything as Hawk’s Grove Press commissions each new audiobook. It’s a total team effort, and while I am 100% responsible for each book’s contents, the energy from everyone at Hawk’s Grove Press might surprise you.
Anyway, here are the books that are currently available or scheduled for release. We’re tracking an exciting publication schedule, and look forward to another new series once all these books are LIVE on Amazon and Audible.
2. Double Take
3. Sapphire Sky (forthcoming)
4. Inherit the Night (forthcoming)
3. Orphans of Fire (forthcoming and out soon!)
4. Quantum Tempest (forthcoming)
5. Crimson Abyss (forthcoming)
Stand-alone novels & and anthology
Visions at Dusk (forthcoming)
Seasons of Illusion (forthcoming)
Challenge yourself to try new things and expand your creativity!
Do not be afraid to immerse yourself in all aspects of creativity. Experiment with new mediums and techniques. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Continue to challenge yourself and explore new and different ways of thinking and working. Take risks. And above all, don’t be afraid to fail. The more you experiment, the more creative you will become.
Creativity is not a one-time event. It’s a continuous journey that we all have the opportunity to embark on. So what are you waiting for? Who knows, you may just come up with the next big thing! Start creating!
Hey, while you’re down here at the bottom of this article, why not sign up for my monthly newsletter? Really, I’d love to have you join the team! Thanks!
Go out and make something AWESOME! Photo by Frank van dar Leer
