Many authors influenced my writing style.
Jack London, Shirley Jackson, Rod Serling, Robert Collier, William Saroyan and Mark Twain, to name a few.
Over the years I’ve attracted rare signed books by and about most of them.
Recently I took the prize by attracting one of the most sought after (and expensive) items of all: a photograph hand signed by Twain himself in 1909.
You have to imagine how this feels.
I wrote about Twain influencing me in such early books as CyberWriting, which was one of my first books on Internet marketing. (1995, now out of print.)
I’ve recently been reading volume one of Twain’s newly released uncensored autobiography, which is a delight.
And I’m greatly enjoying Michael Sheldon’s new biography, Mark Twain: Man in White: The Grand Adventure of His Final Years, which reveals the marketing savvy of the great author. The book explains a lot, including the reason Twain started wearing his famous white suit. I’m loving it.
For me to finally have this actual photo, which was Twain’s favorite, and held by Twain, and hand signed by Twain to a friend of his, is huge. It’s inspiring. It reminds me of what great authors and memorable writing are all about.
Looking at it mentally transports me to a place where I am sitting beside Twain, chatting, smoking a cigar, and laughing at life. I’m mind melding with the legend.
It feels great.
You can do this, too.
Just pick a person you admire, read everything by and about them, and then imagine having a dialogue with them. It’s a type of mental mastermind.
In my book on P.T. Barnum, There’s A Customer Born Every Minute, I include an interview with the great showman (who knew Twain and almost coauthored a book with him).
Obviously I never met Barnum. But I imagined what I would ask him, looked through his books for the answers, and turned it all into a dialogue. It’s one of the most popular sections of that book. (And it was recreated in theatrical form in my first Nightingale-Conant audio program, The Power of Outrageous Marketing.)
Again, you can do this, too.
If you had the chance, who would you brainstorm with?
Who would you interview?
Who would you talk to?
Ao Akua,
PS – One of my ancient articles on what an aspiring writer or speaker can learn from Mark Twain is still online at https://www.mrfire.com/article-archives/ancient-articles/mark-twain-secrets.html (It’s an excerpt from my out of print book, CyberWriting.)
Member BBB 2003 – 2011
13 Comments
I streamed a 3 hour PBS Documentary this week about Mark Twain off NetFlix that absolutely captivated me. The special was flooded with quotes and writings of Twain that mesmerized and inspired me. Every word – carefully crafted and used that produced imagery that not may people can author.
Since, I’ve been attracting other movies, books, and now posts about this magical composer.
As an inspired writer, Twain would be at the top of my list for a Master Mind. Right there with another guy named Vitale. ;-O
Twain said he could live two weeks on a good compliment. You just got most of my December covered. Thank you. 🙂
So – “Rumors of your death have been greatly exaggerated”? 😛
PS – Glad I could oblige. Merry Christmas.
That’s awesome Joe. Glad you got it.
I’d brainstorm with Napoleon Hill.
I’m just curious Joe, if you could spend a day with any person in the history of humanity, who would it be?
With love, Anita
Hmmmm. If he’d speak to me in English, I’d say Jesus.
Joe,
Mark Twain as your Mastermind??
Really?
Samuel Clemens was a diehard atheist, who scoffed at everything spiritual.
You believe in God, right Joe? Well, Sam did not-and mocked those who did.
Maybe deep down, YOU consider Sam your Mastermind because YOU, too, are an atheist, who believes in only one dictum: “There’s a Sucker/Customer born every minute”.
Your use of “Universe”, and “Divine” now seems hollow and phony.
By idolizing Sam Clemens, atheist, you’ve revealed YOUR true religion: Law of Attraction and the “God” of money.
Shame on you, Joe.
I thought that you were above worshiping atheists!
Wow. How’d you make the leap from Twain influencing me as a writer (which is what my post said) to his influencing my spirituality? As for him being an atheist, I’m sure I could learn a thing or two from him whether he was or wasn’t. (Biographies suggest he wasn’t. But do your own research.) Maybe deep down I know I’m open minded enough to learn from many people, especially Mark Twain. I’d rather be open, thank you.
Hi Joe!
I have long regarded Mark Twain as a very, very old soul, possessed of a tremendous spiritual consciousness and brilliant wisdom. To this day he continues to spirtually reenforce/inspire me. Here’s just one example among a myriad from this highly quotable genius: “Forgiveness is the fragrance the flower sheds on the foot that has crushed it.”
Joe, I want to thank you for all that you do, and most importantly for introducing me to ho’opono!
Whoah Jennifer,
Geez calm down there! How did you come to that conclusion? Sounds to me like you are twisting things around… I seriously hope you are not a Christian, because that is not very “Christ like” behavior.
Look, I’m the first to admit that I get pissed from time to time, and God knows that I have gotten upset with Joe and let him have it. But I also love him and greatly respect much of his work and traveled half way around the world to see him… I own almost everything he has penned.
You call him an atheist? Have you read all of his work? To call someone who is a writer an atheist because Sammuel Clemmens is one of his biggest influences.. Is just ignorant, I’m sorry! I don’t mean to offend you but there is no nice way to say that.
What difference does it make what he was as far as his spiritual beliefs were? He was a brilliant author, and one of his most famous quotes is
“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it”
Atheist or not .. A guy who writes something like that cannot be all bad.. I will take that over a judgemental Chrsitian any day, thank you very much!
More memorable writing by a great author is coming your way soon. Look for a clue to arrive in a half fortnight.
Peace.
-Mr X.
You !
You !
You !
😉
That’s awesome Joe. Glad you got it. I’d brainstorm with Napoleon Hill.