Where do my stories come from?

People sometimes ask authors where they get their ideas. I’ve heard writers give all sorts of answers, from watching people in public places to drawing inspiration from something they’ve read or experienced. For me, the answer is often much simpler. I dream them.

I’m not talking about daydreaming, although I certainly do my share of that. I’m talking about honest-to-goodness, sound-asleep-at-night dreams. Sometimes, I’ll wake up with a story playing out in my mind. Other times, it’s a particular scene or a character who seems determined to make an appearance. I’ve even gotten out of bed in the middle of the night to capture an idea on my laptop or phone before it disappears with the morning light.

Of course, not every dream becomes a novel. Some ideas fade as quickly as they arrive. Others linger, refusing to be forgotten. Those are the ones that usually find their way into my writing.

When Life Finds Its Way Into Fiction

Not all my stories come entirely from dreams. Sometimes, the emotions behind them come from my own experiences, hopes, or fears.

If you’ve read about my upcoming novel, The Bouquet and The Garter, you may already know that Adam is a young widower whose marriage ended tragically after only fourteen months. His wife, Julia, went to the grocery store one day and never came home. She was killed by a drunk driver, leaving Adam to face a future without the woman he’d expected to spend his life with.

When Scarlett enters his life, Adam discovers that his heart is capable of loving again. But that realization brings its own struggles. How can he embrace a future with Scarlett without feeling as though he’s leaving Julia behind?

Another story I’ve been developing explores some of those same emotions, but from a different perspective. It’s still in the early stages of development, and I have several other stories planned before it. Nevertheless, it’s one I’m looking forward to telling.

Jonathon is a professional golfer who stepped away from the PGA Tour to care for his wife during her battle with cancer. Following her death, he attempts to return to the sport he loves. Along the way, he meets Alison, a widow who understands the pain of losing a spouse.

Adam’s loss came without warning. Jonathon had time to recognize that he might lose his wife, but he also experienced the heartbreak of watching someone he loved suffer. Their circumstances are very different, yet both men must face the question of whether there’s room in their hearts for another love.

Golf has been part of my life for years. My husband used to enjoy playing, and although he no longer gets out on the course, he still enjoys watching PGA tournaments. Perhaps that’s why the world of professional golf seemed like a natural setting for Jonathon’s story.

But there’s more to these stories than golf or romance. Some of you may remember that my husband was seriously ill and hospitalized not long ago. During that time, I stepped away from social media and asked for your prayers. I’m grateful for every prayer offered on his behalf and thankful that he recovered from that illness.

Experiences like that remind us just how precious the people we love are. Although I’ve always known that life can change in an instant, it’s different when you’re confronted with that possibility in your own family. I’ve also witnessed the heartache of losing someone with whom you shared your life. Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and not everyone finds their way through it in the same manner.

When Characters Take Over

One interesting thing about writing fiction is that a story doesn’t always go where I originally intended. I may have an idea of how events should unfold, but as I get to know my characters, I sometimes discover that what I planned doesn’t suit them. Their personalities, experiences, and choices begin shaping the story in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

That doesn’t mean I have no control over what happens. After all, I’m the one sitting at the keyboard. But I do believe a character’s actions should make sense based on who that person is, not simply because I need something to happen to move the plot forward. And sometimes, that means rethinking a scene I was certain would work.

More Than Just a Story

I write Christian fiction because my faith is part of who I am. It’s natural for that faith to influence the people and situations I write about. But I also want my characters to experience recognizable struggles. They face disappointment, uncertainty, grief, fear, and sometimes circumstances that seem impossible to overcome.

I don’t want their lives to be perfect. I want them to be believable. I love watching a story develop from a small beginning into something much larger. What starts as a dream, an unexpected thought, or a question that won’t leave me alone can eventually become an entire world filled with people I’ve come to know almost as well as my own family. And when that happens, I get to invite readers into that world.

So, where do my stories come from? Sometimes they come from my dreams. Sometimes they grow out of my experiences, my hopes, or even my fears. More often than not, they’re a mixture of all those things.

I never know when the next idea will arrive. It might come during the day, or it might wake me from a sound sleep in the middle of the night. Either way, my laptop or phone is never far away. I’ve learned that if I don’t capture an idea when it comes, there’s no guarantee I’ll remember it in the morning.

What about you? Have you ever had a dream so vivid that you remembered it long after waking? I’d love to hear about it.

If you’re struggling and in need of prayer, let me know, and I’ll pray for you. If you have questions, I’ll do my best to find you answers and study with you.