Greetings, QRW readers! Behind on NaNoWriMo, like me? Looking for some inspiration, ideas, and ideals? I got your fix, right here.

The idea behind this (semi) weekly series is to highlight those masochists that followed their novel (or screenplay, or poetry, or nonfiction) writing dreams, despite years of toil and precious little reward. I highlight folks that give us righteous reads, whose names may sound familiar but aren’t yet favorites, or who might be (by now) officially famous. But all of them are quirky. Rule breakers. Risk takers.

And isn’t that what we’re doing, after all? All of us who write or create for profit or passion? We’re choosing a path for which people try their damndest to make and protect rules, but a path in which the carcasses of those rules are scattered behind a creator’s success. An individual, highly personal and independent path that might one day earn us a spot alongside such masters as these folks listed here. A path that may cause us pain and pleasure at the same time, especially in November.

So let’s look at some mighty Writers Who Matter, delve into what makes them tick, examine some of their best work, and give ourselves a little juice for the NaNoWriMo road:

Now it’s your turn. Who are your Writers Who Matter? Who would you like to see profiled here in future posts?

Like this post? *Blush* Aw, shucks. Tell you what - why don’t you comment below and tell us about it? And subscribe by RSS or email, and get every QRW post as it comes out!