I generate ideas based on what’s left out of a story. For example, when I’m reading an historical document, I look for what is not said. What was left out? Who was left out? What’s missing in the narrative? What reasons could there be for the omissions? Who stands to gain from this? That’s where I start. Then I relate that to modern-day. I love to eavesdrop when I’m in public—and a lot of people talk so openly on their phones, it’s really quite easy! You can learn a lot about a person by the words they use, the phrasing of sentences, the tone, the accent. I love listening to dialogue. The cadence and flow of organic thought processes. But at the core, what is the person actually saying? How are they manipulating the conversation? What’s their motive? All of these elements help me generate ideas for stories or help me more fully identify my characters.
