More motivation Shusterman was inspired to write for the first time in ninth school, when his English instructor, detecting a spark of creativity in him, encouraged him to create a tale a month. "[Kutsher's Camp] Anawana has played such a vital role of my life," he has been quoted as saying. "It was only after I wrote it that I realized how much I loved writing." His other inspirations include people: "My parents have always told me I should be a writer, so there is no doubt that I was born with a writer's soul." And also events: "I was also greatly influenced by the experiences of my friends in camp." Finally, Neal Shusterman loves books! He admits it: "I was bitten by the reading bug at an early age. My parents used to joke that if they didn't limit themselves on camping trips, I would have never left the tent." He has also said that when he grows up he wants to be a writer who makes kids laugh and helps them deal with their problems. Now you know more about Neal Shusterman.