Spinning Tales

For those who write, the wheels are always turning and it can be difficult to get our thoughts to “turn off.”

Inspiration strikes when we least expect it–while driving, taking a shower, at family get-togethers, or even while dozing off at night.  And if you’re blessed to live in a particularly beautiful neck of the woods like I am, spinning tales can really inspire the creative juices. 

At Silver Dollar City

In the heart of the beautiful Ozarks

My family has gotten rather used to me saying, “Wait just a second while I jot that down…”

Since I write about life in a small, fictional town in the Ozarks, I’m surrounded with a wealth of potential tale-makers: culture, heritage, age-old beauty, and some of the friendliest people you’d ever want to meet.

Most of the characters in the contemporary, faith-based romance series I’m creating are down-to-earth, unpretentious, and ordinary “Joes.” They love God and this great nation, and they are steeped in tradition. Of course, living in today’s world often brings challenges and another dreaded word–change.

As I’ve mentioned before, I create characters who struggle with some of the real needs, hurts, and desires that we all have from time to time. I know when I sit down to read something, I don’t want to read about some namby-pamby problem with a mediocre resolution. I want the real meat and potatoes (and fork and knife where I can dig right in), and I want a big, ol’ fattening dessert at the end of the meal (in other words, a happy ending.)

I like spinning tales about small town life, and I like writing about simple, but interesting people with big-time problems.

It’s always exciting to see the Lord’s direction as I write, and occasionally, my characters veer clear off the beaten path of where I’d originally intended. Sometimes, it’s as much of a surprise to me as it is to the folks I write about where they end up, how they got there, and what they’ve learned along the way.

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Where do you draw your inspiration from as you “spin” a tale?