Writers have to have an active imagination; the ability to make up plausible stories on the spot. Two strangers brushing past each other in a crowded train station becomes spies handing off state secrets. An enthusiastic greeting becomes illicit, long-distance lovers meeting for a secret tryst. The lady feeding the pigeons is actually a time-traveler secretly chronicling changes to an area in a micro-ripple effect project. – To a writer, nothing is as it seems.
Because writers view the world through a lens of possibilities, we work within the realm of big and little inspirations. Big inspirations are those that define books. They are ideas that are big enough to be used as the basis for an entire story. For Ring of the Tax Collector, my big inspiration was the idea of Death being the deliverer of karmic justice. However, for any writer, the big inspiration is just the starting point. What keeps the story interesting is all the little inspirations that happen as the book is being written.
Little inspirations are the day to day events in a writer’s life that gives them the ideas of how to move their story forward. Little inspirations can be found anywhere, and often come when least expected. Someone on the train becomes the hero of the story. Running on the treadmill suddenly solves why the villain does their evil work. Watching a kid play with friends on the playground turns into dialogue between characters in the story. ... Anything that gives you ideas to solve a current problem with your story is a little inspiration, and they are everywhere.
May your big inspirations be unique, and your little inspirations be plentiful.
Go forth and write!
Because writers view the world through a lens of possibilities, we work within the realm of big and little inspirations. Big inspirations are those that define books. They are ideas that are big enough to be used as the basis for an entire story. For Ring of the Tax Collector, my big inspiration was the idea of Death being the deliverer of karmic justice. However, for any writer, the big inspiration is just the starting point. What keeps the story interesting is all the little inspirations that happen as the book is being written.
Little inspirations are the day to day events in a writer’s life that gives them the ideas of how to move their story forward. Little inspirations can be found anywhere, and often come when least expected. Someone on the train becomes the hero of the story. Running on the treadmill suddenly solves why the villain does their evil work. Watching a kid play with friends on the playground turns into dialogue between characters in the story. ... Anything that gives you ideas to solve a current problem with your story is a little inspiration, and they are everywhere.
May your big inspirations be unique, and your little inspirations be plentiful.
Go forth and write!