Ideas

Several people have asked me to share how my books are created from start to finish. Several years ago I did a blog series about it, but things have changed over time, so I thought you all might enjoy it whether you are a writer or not.

Let’s begin at the beginning because I’ve heard that it’s a very good place to start.

All stories start with ideas. Planners and Pantsers all begin the same way. They may come from a variety of different places, and the original idea may become lost when the final story hits the bookshelves, but that’s okay. My stories are no different. Today I’m going to share some of the ideas that sparked some of my stories, and then start the journey of one of my most recent stories with you.

Ready?

As you can tell, almost anything can spark an idea for me. (Especially pictures!) I never know when something will trigger some invisible switch and a story with begin to start. It can be exciting as well as a bit frustrating at times when I already have a few stories going and a new one jumps in and demands to be written.

But this story’s journey begins a little differently than most. Jim Wood began oddly enough, because I slapped together some mock covers for a blog post I was doing. Some of you readers asked for the stories, but I didn’t have any.

Yet.

The cover, however, wouldn’t leave my mind even though I was working on other stories. Finally, I decided I’d just start something and hoped it would just sort of go away after that.

I opened a new tab on NEO and just started writing a scene.

And thus Jim Wood was born. Not a very auspicious beginning. No inspiring photographs, no stirring music, or real life story. Just start writing.

. . . Continue the journey next week. Same time, same place. . . .

Where do you get your ideas? Can they come from anywhere, or are you more inclined to get them from certain places? Do you have a favorite place to look for inspiration?