Spark of Inspiration

Writers are always asked where they come up with their story ideas. As if a writer/author has an inside track to a magical place where they secretly go when no one is looking. These people want the golden key to this magical place, so they can be creative too!

In life, I do feel that there are people who were born with creative minds. Ideas come to them. It’s as if they are a magnet to new ideas, new inventions. Then there are other people who are observers. They see something or hear something and their mind “immediately” has a creative thought. I would fall in that camp. I’m inspired by all sorts of things. As soon as I see something, hear something, my mind has a funny thought about it.

For example, I was at the store. I saw this enormous bonsai plant. I’ve always seen dainty ones, but not one with such a huge trunk. I was intrigued.

My friends saw nothing at looking at this bonsai. They were not impressed, they were not interested, they wanted to move on. Obviously, not bonsai lovers. For me, I immediately thought of the book, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” This was an interesting huge bonsai that would keep growing. So, THIS is how the beanstalk looked, I thought. I was READY to climb up and see what I would find.

A NEW story idea was percolating in my mind, if only my friends would SLOW DOWN!! Give me time to THINK! I took this quick picture. Jotted down a few notes.

WHERE will this bonsai tree take me?