You've Got an Idea

Lately, I've been reflecting on where my best ideas come from. Oddly enough, the shower seems to be my most creative space. As I mindlessly scrub away, an idea will pop into my head, like the familiar AOL "whoosh" of old.

You’ve Got an Idea.

But here's the thing: ideas are like unicorns. They appear in a flash, only to vanish as quickly as they came. I’ve lost countless ideas to the drain, trying to scramble for a towel, then a pen and scrap paper just moments too late. Thank goodness for Alexa! Now, when inspiration strikes mid-shower, I can just ask her to take notes.

It’s not just in the shower—ideas often come when I’m doing something else entirely, like watching Netflix or reading. It’s like my brain works best when I’m not actively trying to force it. Some of my best ideas, like the concept for my first novel Picking Up the Pieces, arrived when I least expected it. I spent years struggling with it until one day, it all poured out in six months.

On the other hand, my second book, Doing the Hard Things, was created through dedicated and persistent practice. I wrote almost every day, even if it was just a paragraph or two. The more I worked, the more inspiration flowed. 

With the second novel, I began to think of writing as a way of visiting with my characters—just checking in to see what they’ve been up to since our last conversation. I know that might sound a little odd, but when you’re writing a series, you get to know your characters so intimately that they start to feel like friends. I experience the full range of emotions with them: frustration, disappointment, joy. Just like any other relationship, the more you spend time with them, the more you understand how they’ll think and react in any situation.

Creative moments can be spontaneous, but sometimes they require persistence. If nothing comes to mind for one project, I work on another. Creativity is limitless—if I hit a block on one novel, I just shift gears. Right now, I'm working on two novels and recently wrote fifty pages in two days for a new book, All the Times I Almost Died.

And last night? A dream turned into a potential short story, and once again, Alexa saved the day. The key is to keep going and not chase every fleeting idea. I’m focusing on my two novels and aiming to write a short story by March. My goal? Enter a short story competition by summer.

The more you create and share, the more momentum you gain as an author. Creativity never stops; it’s just about knowing how to harness it.

Now, I want to know: Where do your best ideas come from? Are they spontaneous or do you nurture them over time? How do you stay focused when creativity is flowing? Let me know in the comments!