Have you ever wondered where authors get their story ideas? When does that strike of genius hit an author? Is it like a light bulb coming on? Does the whole plot form before our eyes as a scroll rolling open? Do the clouds part, and a shining light transcends upon us with grand inspiration? I wish!
I can’t speak for all authors—maybe some do have a tried and true, legitimate eureka moment—but my own experience has been much simpler, and it varies from book to book. When I began my Hometown Holiday Heartstrings series, I knew I wanted titles that featured alliteration. I only knew that Book One would be about spring and flowers. I narrowed the flowers down to Tulips. And the title The Trouble with Tulips was born. From there, the plot began to take shape, centered around, well, tulips and all the trouble they caused between my hero and heroine. I named the rest of the series before the books were written, following the alliteration pattern, and that sparked the basic idea for each plot.
Places I have lived or visited are another spark for ideas. When I decided I wanted to start another series, I had no solid idea about it, but I decided to set it in Michigan because I had lived there and liked it. Michigan has harsh winters, and thus With Love, Melody was set in January along the shores of Lake Michigan. Let’s just say the story involves a lot of snowy weather, which guides important parts of the plot.
I like to honor important people in my life through the stories I write. [Mild spoiler ahead:] When I began planning The Loophole in Lilies, I knew I wanted each main character to have a specific medical condition that impacted their journeys to love. I gave Dusty, the hero, a pituitary gland tumor in honor of my husband’s brother who has the same condition and went through all the emotions to reach diagnosis and treatment. Kendra, our chatty heroine, had premature ovarian failure, not just because it is under-represented in fiction due to its rareness, but also because one of my dearest friends also has this condition, and it has deeply impacted her life since she was a teen. If I didn’t personally know both individuals who experienced these medical conditions, I doubt I would have written that book.
Personal experience can also deeply impact story ideas. When I chose to represent depression in a romance, it was scary. But I pushed through anyway since I have struggled with depression my whole life. It gave me a lot of hands-on experience to draw from in developing Joy, and I was so pleased by feedback from readers of With All My Heart, Joy who felt so seen in Joy’s character and her walk with depression and anxiety. Using personal life to spark a major plot point can leave an author feeling vulnerable, but it creates a beautiful authenticity, and we don’t have to worry about if we’re “getting it right” like we do when we write about something less familiar.
Bible verses have also sparked plot points for me. My last release, The Grump Who Doesn’t Belong Next Door, which came out in May in the charity anthology You Have Made My Heart, features two characters struggling to “hear” God in their lives. The Bible verse that guided the spiritual arc was Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV)
Sometimes researching a topic can bring on just the right inspiration, too. My debut series was actually Christian coming-of-age fiction with a romance thread throughout. After two titles, I decided I wanted to try my hand at Christian contemporary romance. Christmas was coming, so what better way to dive into romance than with a Christmas story? There were already so many stories about mistletoe, Christmas trees, getting snowed in, etcetera, and I wanted something a little more unique. I’ve always loved The Nutcracker Suite song “The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy,” so I decided to find out more about sugarplums. After a little research and looking at various recipes for sugarplums, I concluded I would probably never want to eat one—but what if I had a character who DID? Queue my novella, A Second Chance for Sugarplums. I would never have written it if I didn’t research what sugarplums actually are first.
And if all else fails and I am thoroughly stumped on story inspiration, I take a shower. My best plot-saving ideas have always come to me in the shower.
Where, when, or how are big ideas or inspiration most likely to strike you? Leave a comment below and tell me!
Emily Dana Botrous is an east-coast transplant who now calls San Diego home. She is a wife and mom of four. When she’s not busy doing laundry, packing lunches, and picking toys off the floor, she enjoys reading, cooking, music, long walks, and writing. Always writing. It is her goal in all things to make Jesus first, last, and always.
I get inspired for my writing from almost anything, through associations of ideas: a story I hear or I read about, a random conversation, a person I am seeing can be the starting point for a character, a movie or a song can also be an inspiration source.
Also, when thinking about a plot point… ideas come to me most often in the bus/ metro/ tram or in the station, waiting for them…
I make my own cards, I do NOT write books! lol!! I start thinking about what occasion I need a card for, and start getting ideas. Sometimes, it’s not so fun because I don’t have what I wanted to use, and sometimes I can’t FIND what I want to use! Then, I come up with another idea using what I have or what I can find. However, I also brainstorm ideas with one of the author’s whose books I edit. Just recently she mentioned something to me, and she said she wasn’t excited about doing something, so I suggested something else, and she’s running with it. I can come up with ideas, but I’d never be able to put it on paper in a way that would make sense and all of the nuances to write a book. I can make up a few cool scenarios, though!!
I am a quilter and I tend to get most of my ideas from nature or something unexpected that happens. This is very interesting above. thanks for sharing.
I’m not a plotter per se, but when I’m exercising, God gives me the story. I give Him credit because I’m not that creative. I’m nearing the conclusion of Book 2 in my Surrendering Hearts series and while walking the dog major plot points came together simply by being out and enjoying His creation.
So interesting, The shower, absolutely, though sitting on a ferry too, or walking along the beachfront too, water seems to release the flow of ideas for me to.
Isn’t it amazing how many different sources can bring ideas together? Sometimes it starts out as one simple idea, and then it IS very much like a lightbulb coming on as I suddenly see a bigger plot idea sprouting before me.
Hi Trudy, card making sounds fun! I’m not very crafty, so I always admire those who are. Creativity comes in all forms!
I’m glad you found it interesting, Lori. I love quilts! Someday I want to learn to make them. Nature does sound like great inspiration for quilting. Do you have a favorite pattern?
Hi Julie, I’m with you on that! I have gotten great ideas while walking with my kids–generally when I don’t have a pen and paper with me to jot down the ideas quickly! Exercise seems to stimulate extra creativity. Best wishes as you finish up Book 2! I’m trying to finish up a book today, too.
Hi Dianne, I think if I ever have the chance to go to the beach sans children, it might provide me with some great inspiration. I do love the sound of waves! Or a stream. Or a waterfall. Or a bubbling fountain. I guess I love the sound of water in general! Maybe that’s why the shower inspires me. Lol.
Hi, just thinking of what things are to come, like the other day I was thinking of my oldest grandaughter who will be graduating HS this coming school year, hard to believe she is already about to graduate , seems like just yesterday she was going to pre school. Anyways, I started thinking of writing a poem for her. Have a great day and a great rest of the week.
It’s really interesting to hear how you developed your stories, I’m so impressed that you could start with just a title and work up a whole book! I’m not at all creative, I,’m always in awe of people who can have so many ideas like that!
If I am working on a projects, for work for example, I find it helps to think about it in the back of my mind while I’m doing other things, letting my thoughts develop and then try to pull it together.
Seeing nature, sometimes in the shower or talking to someone sometimes strikes a cord. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Hi Alicia, that’s definitely a great way to spark ideas. Congratulations to your granddaughter!
Hi Ruthie, oh I do this a lot! I like to let my story scenes percolate in my head for a while before I write them to let them come to life. That way I know exactly what I want to write and don’t sit staring at a blank screen!
Thank you, Debra. Nature is so inspiring! Glad I’m not the only inspired showerer here. :) God bless you as well!
I don’t write but would get ideas on walks. I also often think what if when I see things on holidays or in the city etc. Or at the cricket what if hero/heroine meet watching a game of domestic cricket and start getting to knew each other as friends who just happen to go to the games. and it slowly turns to more.
I know a friend of mum’s who I use to stay with in Melbourne when alive knitted for a designer Jenny Key. She had some bright designs. Mrs D would be in a shopping centre just people watching to see what people were wearing and seeing inspiration from what she would see. She told me how she would often imgine their stories.
I remember in Atlanta getting slightly turned around going to the airport (with a couple of authors one being suspense) and having a person who seemed to be following for a time and then how we turned around the right way. but we were joking about this is going to be the makings of a book
Hi Jenny! Real life and people watching are excellent sources for inspiration. With all the differences in the world, the options are endless!