When a story sneaks up on you, write it

I didn’t expect to be writing today, but here I am. The idea was a simple one, Wuxia King Arthur with Dragons, Magic, and a Twist. That idea was so high concept that I didn’t expect it to start crystalizing as fast as it did.

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Test image to try to inspire more story.[/caption]

Throughout the day, I probed the idea and even made a test cover to see if I could find any inspiration in what I can only call a notion. That is a very generous way for me to describe this wisp of an idea that I had by midnight. But I really wanted to write something, anything.

At about 1 am, I sat down in my office to start writing and the words and images started flowing. The characters and world came alive to me. I can’t remember a story that flowed out of me so easily.

This isn’t the book I was planning on writing. This isn’t even the setting I thought I would be writing in, but the story presented itself so aggressively I had to give it a try.

Fascination is more important to me than than inspiration. I really need to be captivated by an idea for the images to form easily. I can write when I am not in love with a story, but the stories are harder to do, and I find it hard to get into the character’s head. Fascination is a funny beast.

I hope Dragon in the Snow continues to flow this easily, but I know it will have challenges like every story does. The best part is, I don’t know how the book will end, but I have a funny feeling it does.

If you want to read along with the draft, check it out here.