Goodreads asked Sally J. Smith:

How do you get inspired to write?

Sally J. Smith Inspiration isn't always where I start, but when I do start there it always begins with: What if...? Unfortunately, if a writer waits for "inspiration," she might grow old and grey waiting for it to strike. I tend to go by the adage that writing a novel is "ninety percent discipline and ten percent inspiration." What generally happens is if I sit in my chair in front of the computer screen long enough, something comes to me. If that's inspiration, that's where it starts, springing from many hours of posing then answering questions surrounding an idea from hearing the news, reading an article online or in a magazine, an overheard remark, or my own experiences. Eventually one of those ideas sticks, and I go from there.

flag