Welcome Guest Blogger Karen Witemeyer

Where Do You Find Your Inspiration?

One of the most common questions readers ask authors is, "Where do you get your ideas?" As a creative person, I long to say that my ideas sprout naturally from the fertile soil of my imagination. But alas, I cannot make that claim with a clean conscience. So I'm going to share with you the deep dark secret hiding in my authorial closet . . .

I get my inspiration from other writers. Gasp!

I know, I know. I've completely disillusioned you, haven't I? Well, do not fear. I'm sure there are many successful authors out there who are creative geniuses, who produce unique plots and original characters with a simple flip of a neural switch in their mind. You may admire them all you like. But, me? Well, I'm like one of those chemical reactions you studied back in high school that needs a catalyst to get things started.

Now, I'm not talking about plagiarism or stealing someone's idea. Those are crimes deserving of flogging to my way of thinking. What I'm talking about is the spark that ignites when you read a passage or watch a scene in a movie that sets the creative fires burning in new and exciting directions.

For example, in my current work in progress, tentatively titled Short-Straw Bride, my inspiration came from the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. My story has four brothers instead of seven, and the men don't sing and dance while they do their chores. However the spark came when I thought about this movie and then asked, what if? What if instead of having the heroine agree to a marriage of convenience at the beginning of the story, the brothers drew straws to see who would marry her when a good deed goes awry? And what if instead of all the brothers being named in alphabetical order after Bible characters, my four brothers were named for heroes from the Alamo? The what if game continued until I ended up with a story that in no way resembled the musical. Yet if you look carefully, you can find a few similarities left over from the catalyst that started the creativity reaction in the first place.

My first book, A Tailor-Made Bride, which is up for a RITA award, has a heroine who was inspired by one of Deeanne Gist's characters and contains a subplot inspired by reality television. After reading Deep in the Heart of Trouble where Dee had a bicycle-riding heroine, I got the idea of having a heroine who was a 19th century fitness maven and seamstress who worked her "extreme makeover" magic on the hero's sister. The spark for Head in the Clouds was the classic novel, Jane Eyre. And in my latest release, To Win Her Heart, my catalyst was . . . drum roll please . . .the Bible.

OK, not the entire Bible, just a little piece from Luke 15. You've already recognized it, haven't you? Yep, the parable of the Prodigal Son. And I know what you're thinking. Lots of stories have used this parable as a foundation for a spiritual thread or character arc, so how in the world could this catalyst end up making anything original? The trick is in the what if. What if instead of ending my story with the hero repenting and returning to God, I started it there?

Have you ever wished there was an epilogue to this famous parable? I have. I wanted to know what life was like for the young man after the fatted calf was consumed and the party was over. How did he relate to his bitter older brother or the servants and townspeople who were only too aware of his past arrogance and wild living? I decided to explore these questions in a new setting—1880s Texas.

First, I needed a prodigal. Enter my hero, Levi Grant. Raised by godly parents, he turns his back on his faith and the blacksmithing trade of his father to prove his manhood and earn easy money through the wild life of a bare-knuckle brawler. Until the day something goes terribly wrong and he ends up in Huntsville state prison serving a two-year sentence. Through the traumatic abuse he suffers in the labor camps combined with the compassion he receives from the prison chaplain, Levi repents and rededicates his life to the Lord.

Our heroine, Eden Spencer, fulfills the role of the parable's older brother character. She has been disappointed by men in the past and has little tolerance of those who don't meet her high standards. She cannot abide violence of any kind and believes that elevating young minds through education and exposure to literature will help create a more civilized society. To this purpose, she opens a lending library in her home.

In an effort to make a clean start, Levi hides his past and Eden believes she has finally found a man of honor and integrity. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, our tarnished hero must fight to win back the librarian's affections.

So for those of you who have pulled your hair out in frustration when editors say they want something fresh and original while in the same breath insisting they need something that fits their established line, perhaps my strategy will keep you from going bald. Take a piece from something proven to be successful, then turn it on its head and stir it around until you have something completely new.

Oh, and speaking of trying something new, I'm test driving a new marketing endeavor that you might be interested in. I'm hosting a fan fiction contest, inviting any interested readers and writers to pen an epilogue for two of my secondary characters in To Win Her Heart. The contest runs through June 30th, and the winner will receive a $40 Amazon gift card, her epilogue published on my website, and an autographed copy of any one of my three books. I'd love to have you enter. You can find the guidelines here: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/contest.php

Have you ever needed a catalyst to spark your creativity? What did you find most inspiring? Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of To Win Her Heart.

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Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. Her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, is a finalist in the Best First Book categories for both the prestigious RITA® award and the National Reader's Choice Award. She makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three kids who are a constant source of inspiration.