Where Genres Collide Traci Dowe YA Author

Writerly Things…10/29/18

Traci Kenworth

How Do You Find Your Inspiration?

Inspiration can be found in anything around us. Take a walk for instance. Fallen leaves, isolation, a campground might inspire you to write a scary tale. A trip to the city might bring up corruption, brutality, and homelessness. Driving down the road might tip the setting of your book from Rome to someplace more familiar. Big towns, small towns, they both have their advantages. So, do fields, spaceships, and laboratories.

Some writers find a story in a song. I haven’t been able to do this yet. I find most of mine come when thoughts twist together and take root. It could be a story I’ve read that sparks something. It could be a TV show or a movie. A picture does the trick too. I always want to know more about what’s in the frame. What are the people like? Where do they live? Are they happy? Has a tragedy touched their lives? A story shapes as I go deeper.

How Do You Take It Deeper?

You start by asking questions. Who are they? What are their positive and negative traits? What do they do for a living? Do they like it? What would they do if a million dollars fell into their hands? It’s questions like this that begin to frame that story. The more that you ask the more solid the story becomes. What type of story are you writing comes into the picture here. Fantasy? Horror? Science-fiction? Etc. Then you consider your audience. MG? YA? Adult?

Some other things to consider are setting. Does it take place in a historical setting? Do your research. You’d be surprised the info that’s out there. Even with a futuristic tale, you need to do some research. What kind of technology might they have? Has transportation changed? There are a million things to consider.

It all begins with a single seed. So, water it well. Have a great day, take care, and God bless!