The pearl of an idea.

As a (soon to be) published author, one of the questions I get asked often-mostly by friends and family as I don't have any "fans" yet is: "Where do you get your ideas?" I think this is a great question because it has such a variety of answers, most of which will vary from author to author. If you are an aspiring writer, I recommend asking this question as often as you can because it will broaden your own scope. For instance, I prefer to get my ideas from a subscription box (just kidding).

In truth, many of my ideas come as just a simple, often small thought. If I like that thought or idea, I follow the thread and see where it goes. One of the things that I think traps aspiring writers and stops them from pursuing their goal is the false notion that your idea has to be groundbreaking. It doesn't. And, quite honestly, with the scope of history and literature that lies behind us, it probably won't be. That's not to say that what you write will not be good or have value, indeed that whole of a story can be ground breaking, genre defining, and so on, but the idea probably will not be.

This is something that used to greatly discourage me. I thought, "What's the point? It's already been done and mine probably isn't going to be any good." Then I heard a quote, I can't remember from whom, that got my wheels spinning and my pen writing. "Every tale has been told; every song has been sung, but they haven't been done by you."

After hearing that, I stopped looking for my big "Damascus Road" idea and kept an eye out for the kernels; the little grains of sand that could one day turn into a pearl. Fast forward a few years and I am on track to get not just one, but three books published (all in different areas). So, keep an eye out for the small things. As Earl Nightengale says, "One idea is enough to change your life." Find your grain of sand and watch it transform into a pearl.

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