7 public figures who shaped my writing voice
Ever wonder where my politically incorrect, unapologetic writing voice came from? I didn’t just wake up one day and start swearing like a sailor.
You might be familiar with the following names on this list. But if you ain’t, then let me give you a crash course. Oh, and you might be shocked since only one of them is a fiction author. At least to my knowledge.
So, who all shaped TC Marti’s writing voice and why was I so enamored with them? Keep reading and you’ll find out.
1 – Pat McAfee
The second I watched Pat McAfee on YouTube, I was like, Yes, this is gonna be the writing voice. Profane-laced with some dark humor and one that readers won’t soon forget about. Profanity has become McAfee’s brand, and it’s why you’ll remember him.
2 – Ron Harris
Conversational and no-nonsense. That’s been Ron Harris’ tone ever since his A Bodybuilder is Born (not an affiliate link) series commenced back in 2002. I caught the tail end of it, then went back and read the archives. That conversational tone made me forget I was reading, and instead, made me feel like I was actually in his stories.
3 – Mark Madden
I used to listen to Mark Madden daily between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. for years. Playing the part of a pro-wrestling “heel character” while talking about sports made me mildly interested in teams I otherwise wouldn’t have given two fucks about. Plus, the guy was hilarious. Quips on “two-dollar hookers” and porn stars were always part of the Mark Madden soundtrack. “You heard it here first, you jackass.”
4 – Darren McCarty
Darren McCarty’s basically the NHL’s version of Pat McAfee. High-energy, profane-laden, no-bullshit, and direct. He’s hilarious, and his storytelling is bar-none. No wonder he’s still well-liked in Detroit Red Wings’ circles to this day, and his story is an interesting one (again, not an affiliate link). Now let’s talk about a guy who never swears but taught me how to slice sentences like a surgeon…
5 – Jerry Jenkins
Yep, from sheer profanity and political incorrectness to an upright Christian man in Jerry Jenkins. But minimalist, active writing’s my forte here, and I got Jenkins to thank for that. Hell, he’s the reason I had the courage to save some serious dough and edit my books with his “ferocious self-editing” tactics.
6 – Simon Cowell
I remember watching Simon Cowell’s unapologetic takes on American Idol way back in the day. While his insults offended some, they sparked laughter in me. It was great, and even during those early middle school days, his “rude” comments sparked inspiration.
7 – Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
You can argue that this would make eight. But I had to clump Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse together. Why? Where the hell do you think my love for complex plots and genre fusion came from?
Or, at least partially. I got Lindelof and Cuse to thank for that, mainly because they were the brains behind ABC’s Lost between 2004 and 2010. They were the catalyst that made me say, “Hell yeah, I wanna create something just as complex, if not more, someday.”
Plots that will challenge the mind and thrive on political incorrectness…
Ironically, I keep profanity to a minimum in my books. But they’re politically incorrect as hell, and would send those performing newspeak theatrics running for the hills and crying foul. If you’re easily offended or too much of a simple mind to grasp my works’ language and complex plots, then they ain’t for you.
But if you like putting your brain to work and got thick skin, then make my books your next binge reads. You’re getting rough-around-the-edges fiction that doesn’t ask for a gatekeeper’s permission to exist. It’s raw, unpredictable, and it ain’t afraid to push genre boundaries.
Check them out now at my personal store, The Rebel Lore Vault. Support my work, and quit feeding the unrelenting beast that is Amazon.
