So You Want to Write a Book? Part 1

As soon as people find out that I am not only a writer, but a novelist, they ask tons of questions.
Ranging from:


"How do you get your ideas?"
"How long does it take?"
"Where do you find the time?"
"How do you get started?"


It seems that while there are many writers producing books on this planet, we are still the minority. People appear captivated my the "mystery" of writing a book. They often see writers as this untouchable entity that sit around all day, maybe with a few self-destructive vices, that magically produces great books for them to read. In the majority of writer's cases, this is simply not true. We are just like the rest of the population, except we see, hear, taste, touch, and emotionally feel things a tad different. In every interaction or experience is a story.


That woman in the lane behind you on the freeway who's been riding your bumper for the past mile?
She's trying to get to the hospital to see her loved one who was in an accident.


The man fumbling with his cash at the register and taking longer?
He just found out he's dying.


The mother with the child screaming in the middle of Walgreens?
She's a single mother working two jobs, because her husband left for work six months ago and hasn't returned.


See what I mean? There are stories everywhere, all around us. Past, present, and if you have a large enough imagination, even in the future. Writers just pay a bit more attention and ask themselves the ultimate question: What if? 


One of my favorite quotes is this:
A writer is working when they are staring out the window.


Cultivating your ideas takes time. It takes not only conscious brainstorming, but random daydreaming as well. This can happen at home, in the shower, in the car. Most people call this their "muse" when they suddenly get a good idea for their project. Really, it's just your back brain shifting through stuff and finally finding a solution. Once you are practiced in seeing the stories that are everywhere, it becomes easier to "find" topics and subjects to write about.


Practice saying and thinking "What if"" or "Why" to everyday situations, and see what you can come up with. I had a new idea for a romance set in Scotland come up while I was crocheting a scarf and watching Person of Interest on Netflix. Just always have that notebook handy for when the ideas come.