I'm interested to hear where you got your inspiration for writing Zenn Diagram?

Wendy Brant Victoria,

Thanks so much for the question! The truth is ... I'm not 100% sure. With everything else I've ever written, I could tell you exactly where the idea came from. With Zenn Diagram, it's a little less clear, but here's the story: I had previously written YA novel (a dystopian story) and had tried for a year and a half to find an agent for it. I was told repeatedly that the dystopian market was saturated and I probably wouldn't be able to sell it. I was discouraged and frustrated but knew I had to keep writing so I went to the park one day in October of 2013 and brainstormed ideas for a new novel. I think I wrote down 7 or 8, and one of them was something like "Girl who can see the future meets boy who can't escape the past". That idea must have struck a chord with me because then I expanded on it and it morphed into Zenn Diagram.

As far as the inspiration behind the idea, I think it came from watching my daughter, who was a freshman in high school at the time, and her friends struggle with being vulnerable. It seems like teenagers are so afraid to let others see their perceived weaknesses/struggles and I thought ... what if they couldn't hide them? And what would it be like if you had to see everyone's baggage right from the start? Would that be a good or a bad thing? Also, I liked the whole idea that a relationship is like a Venn Diagram in that where our stories overlap is where relationship happens: shared history, sense of humor, attraction, etc. That overlapping part of the circles is the good stuff.

Anyway, I think that's where it all started. I hope I answered your question! Thanks again!

-Wendy

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