I’m often asked about where I get the inspiration for my stories. I find that it’s actually a fairly difficult question to answer. Each story blends inspiration from so many different parts of my life and the world as I’ve experienced it that a single, simple answer doesn’t suffice.

Let’s take the story I’m currently working on, S.A.L., as an example. The first line, as well as the overall situation and tone, came from a dream I’d had many years ago. However, in that dream, I was the My Little Pony character Twilight Sparkle in a modern human metropolis. Needless to say, I have to deviate quite a bit from that! ^.^’

While a lot of my inspirations come from dreams, many of the small details or impactful moments are inspired by other experiences in my life:

– Walking a route I’d walked hundreds of times, I was startled by a strange, loud, papery hiss. I leapt sideways and looked down to see…a praying mantis. It had its wings flared wide, forelegs posturing threateningly. It was making that hissing noise by rubbing its abdomen across the ridges on its wings.

This was the first time I’d ever seen a praying mantis in real life, and what a dramatic impression! I’d seen many videos of them, but in none of them had I ever heard them hiss!

This moment reminded me that amazing, wonderous things are happening all around us, all the time. That things communicate in so many different ways, from posture and body language, to vocal and non-vocal sounds. And, that I should be more mindful of where I step. 😉

– I don’t know how to drive, so I watch the world flow by from the comfort of the passenger seat. Since my fiancé has to focus on everything happening on the road, all around us, simultaneously, he can’t really afford to focus on the smaller details. But I can.

So when I see cars with spare tires, broken mirrors, missing or obscured license plates, and broken windows as we’re going down the highway, I let him know. This vehicle has a few signs that are indicative of a less-cautious driver, so he can use that information to adjust accordingly.

In these moments, I am reminded that even though I am literally not in the driver’s seat, I am able to help and support in my own way. From noticing small details to grabbing stuff from the backseat, what I do has an impact.

– My fiancé and I are on very similar mental wavelengths, but we each approach problems or challenges from different angles, using different skillsets. We both love telling stories, for example. I like to write or draw mine. He likes to present his stories as games.

We both love science. He has an incredible mind for numbers. My focus is on natural sciences. We each think about psychology and the way people interact. He’s very good at calculating the results of various interactions. I’m better at finding root causes, the “Why?” of them.

Every time we experience that synergy that pings off of each other, I’m reminded that even when people experience the exact same event, the impact and impression that event has on each individual can vary wildly. Taking a moment to understand someone else’s perspective is a wonderful way to learn about and appreciate an experience even more.

Three small events. Moments that are easily overlooked or forgotten. And yet, each of these have contributed the inspiration for elements of the story of S.A.L. . It’s easy to find the inspiration from the big moments. Here’s a few tips to help you find the inspiration from the smaller moments.

My first piece of advice is to rekindle your sense of wonder. Take an extra moment to really appreciate the scent and flavor of your favorite food or drink. Let your eyes draw in every color, every shape. Listen. Really feel that soft, fluffy blanket. The grit of the sand between your toes. Where exactly did whatever you are experiencing so deeply come from? Why is it the way it is? Did someone make it this particular way? Or was it affected by its environment and time? How?

My second piece of advice would be to genuinely speak with people. Start a conversation with the goal of learning more about them and how they see the world. If they mention a point-of-view that you don’t understand or agree with, ask them about it. You might find that they have valid reasons or experiences that you’ve never had or considered in order to have the viewpoint that they do. You might still disagree with them, and that’s okay. The goal was to learn and understand, not necessarily to agree.

My third piece of advice is both easier, and more vital, than it ever has been before: RECORD IT! Take a picture or a video! Write it down! Draw it! If it was a lovely piece of fruit or a vegetable, keep the sticker! Scrapbook the inspiration! Press that pretty flower! Pick up that cool rock! Make a rubbing or a print of the thing! Do something to capture the moment, when a spark of wonder or a flash of inspiration shines through.

Living a modern life too often means rushing forward to the next checkpoint, chasing an ever-larger goal. When water flows too quickly, it doesn’t have a chance to seep deep into the soil and nourish it. The land becomes dry and desiccated. Let the inspiration soak into your heart and soul. You might be surprised at the garden you’ll find growing there once you do! ^.^