Triggers for our imagination often occur when we're least expecting them: walking the dog, sitting in class, awaking from a dream. Our brains process millions of thoughts everyday but which ones blossom into characters, plot threads and settings is spontaneous. A couple of examples from my own life include The Rules trilogy and Call of the Black Panther.
The former grew from a short dream where I had a crush on Aladdin – yes, from the Disney movie of the same name – yet knew he had to be with Jasmine for the sake of the narrative. That tiny snippet became a three book journey set in an epic fantasy reality where questions of freewill and the greater good are tackled. The fact that it did figuratively blows my mind.
Call of the Black Panther was born from even less concrete roots. It's a story incorporating my deep love for nature and animals, fascination with coming of age stories as well as the tension between individuals and established hierarchy.
Both stories are mine, the writing style is recognisable, yet they handle different matters with very different characters. Part of this stems from the time of my life when they were written. Call of the Black Panther was written during my teenage years when issues of romantic partners, identity and generational divide were particularly influential forces. The Rules trilogy was written during my post-secondary experience and is a more complex story which addresses concepts without concrete labels.
The characters in The Rules trilogy are a prime example. While some more easily fit into the definition of 'evil' or 'good', each is multifaceted and it's possible to understand why they made their choices even though you may not believe those choices are right.
The best example I can give without spoiling plot is when the protagonist witnesses a cult bringing back someone from the dead. Everything about the process is perverted and wrong, yet those who participate are motivated primarily out of love – love tainted by grief. Every person who loses someone they care about hopes their loved one is in a better place. Would you take the opportunity to know for sure, even if it involved shady practices?
My previous blog posts have noted that you should understand your own influences and style. Performing activities such as this is one way to do so. Investigating why I was inspired to write certain narratives at certain times gives me the power to improve and shape my development. If you were to sit down and write something as soon as you've finished reading this, what would it be? No matter what its contents, fiction, nonfiction, journal or shopping list, every thought has the potential to grow into its own entity. Ideas give meaning to our lives and stories are one of the most accessible ways to communicate them.
The former grew from a short dream where I had a crush on Aladdin – yes, from the Disney movie of the same name – yet knew he had to be with Jasmine for the sake of the narrative. That tiny snippet became a three book journey set in an epic fantasy reality where questions of freewill and the greater good are tackled. The fact that it did figuratively blows my mind.
Call of the Black Panther was born from even less concrete roots. It's a story incorporating my deep love for nature and animals, fascination with coming of age stories as well as the tension between individuals and established hierarchy.
Both stories are mine, the writing style is recognisable, yet they handle different matters with very different characters. Part of this stems from the time of my life when they were written. Call of the Black Panther was written during my teenage years when issues of romantic partners, identity and generational divide were particularly influential forces. The Rules trilogy was written during my post-secondary experience and is a more complex story which addresses concepts without concrete labels.
The characters in The Rules trilogy are a prime example. While some more easily fit into the definition of 'evil' or 'good', each is multifaceted and it's possible to understand why they made their choices even though you may not believe those choices are right.
The best example I can give without spoiling plot is when the protagonist witnesses a cult bringing back someone from the dead. Everything about the process is perverted and wrong, yet those who participate are motivated primarily out of love – love tainted by grief. Every person who loses someone they care about hopes their loved one is in a better place. Would you take the opportunity to know for sure, even if it involved shady practices?
My previous blog posts have noted that you should understand your own influences and style. Performing activities such as this is one way to do so. Investigating why I was inspired to write certain narratives at certain times gives me the power to improve and shape my development. If you were to sit down and write something as soon as you've finished reading this, what would it be? No matter what its contents, fiction, nonfiction, journal or shopping list, every thought has the potential to grow into its own entity. Ideas give meaning to our lives and stories are one of the most accessible ways to communicate them.
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