Everybody has their Top Ten lists. Sure, lists are a viral sensation in the Age of the Internet, but let’s not forget that Casey Kasem was counting down our Top 40 favorite songs for years in the Age of Radio. And, in earlier centuries, America’s Founders came up with a Top Ten List of Amendments to the Constitution, which Americans now call the Bill of Rights.

Generations of Medieval theologians gave us lists of angels and archangels, not to mention the Top Seven Deadly Sins. The Hindus gave us a Top Seven list of chakras. Greeks had their Top Twelve list of gods, and Plato had his Top Four list of virtues. Gautama had two lists: the Top Four Noble Truths and Top Eight factors that lead one to the cessation of dukkha.

The West gave us a Top Four list of elements. The East gave us a Top Five list of elements. And Moses counted down the Top Ten Commandments over 3000 years ago.

So, in that ancient and noble tradition, I tried to come up with a Top Ten list of writers who have influenced my writing or my thoughts on writing. Here we go! Continue reading →