Watchmen Creator Alan Moore Has Surprising Advice For Writers
Prolific comic book writer Alan Moore has given some unconventional but insightful advice to aspiring writers during a storytelling course for BBC Maestro. The author of Watchmen has inspired many storytellers, making his recommendation surprising as he said that young creatives shouldn’t simply read good books, but also “terrible books.”
Known for his many critically acclaimed stories includingWatchmen, V forVendetta, and Swamp Thing among others, Alan Moore is one of a few writers in the comic book industry who has transcended the medium. His work has influenced countless writers and artists across comics, film, TV, and other storytelling methods. From director Zack Snyder to writers Damon Lindelof and Tom King, Moore’s work continues to spur reinterpretation and remains relevant for a new generation. However, the legacy of stories such as Watchmen is largely found in young up-and-coming creatives who had their ideas of what is possible in comics impacted by Moore’s writing.
Related: Watchmen Co-Creator Dave Gibbons Talks Alan Moore, Comics in Autobiography
During a storytelling course for BBC Maestro, Alan Moore spoke on advice for such storytellers, suggesting that aspiring writers should “read terrible books.” While popular advice for creatives has always recommended that they should read often, Moore’s commentary offers some distinction. In the interview, the famous author elaborated, saying:
As a prospective writer, I would urge you to not only read good books — read terrible books as well, because they can be more inspiring than the good books. If you're inspired by a good book, there's always the danger of plagiarism, of doing something that is too much like that good book, whereas a genuinely helpful reaction
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