Where do my ideas come from?
No. 1 question I'm asked
So many people ask me this question. How do I come up with the characters, creatures, worlds, names, languages, etc? And the honest answer is…I play. I let loose of the reigns of my mind and let it wander and wonder. It might be a random pattern on the bathroom tiles that spur an alien creature, or a snippet of conversation overheard in a cafe that sets my mind down paths unknown.
Influences of my youth surely play a part in my imaginary worlds. I grew up devouring fantasy and sci-fi books with the occasional horror or mystery thrown in. Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Robert Jordan, Stephen R. Donaldson, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, of course the double RR’s (J and G), Anne McCaffrey and so many others. I was never without a book and my top school grades were always in writing.
Now I love nothing more than popping on my headphones, putting on my Flow playlist and diving into my own fantastical worlds.
There are the usual tropes to play with: chosen one, golden fleece, super hero, good v evil. Differentiating my creations from the hundreds of thousands of others out there is the real challenge. It isn’t just about the world building - although that is a big part - it’s about the depth of the characters, their interactions, the adventure. Readers need to be able to connect with the main character (MC). They need to care what happens. Want to find out if they make it through or not. And, most importantly, how they will change on this journey.
Once I’ve come up with a character or place or creature, I research it. How many other authors have used similar premises, names, or descriptions. If it’s not too overdone, then I set up the ‘skeleton’ of the story or scene. When that’s done I hang some muscles and flesh in the form of backstories, side notes, and descriptions. It could be something as in-depth as why my MC is so rebellious to a simple description of a lizard. The backstory may or may not make it into the story, regardless it helps make a more three dimensional character. Her reactions are aligned to her personality. Likewise, I might not go into detail description of the lizard in the story, but when I do introduce it, I can bring in little subtleties that make it feel real and alive.
These are just some of the ways that I come up with my ideas. Some are weirder than others. I hope you enjoy them.
If you’re interested in starting the latest fantasy adventure with Bex, then she is now out in the world and available by clicking on the button below: