ideas are the beginning

I'm having a lot of fun writing my middle grade novel. It's a lot different from what I usually write which is nonfiction. Nonfiction is getting the facts straight and yes, writing them creatively, but not quite as much fun as making up characters and seeing where they will lead you. So far, I have only earned real money from my nonfiction writing, but I've had a great time with my novel and, who knows, maybe someday someone will pay to read that too!

I also like essay writing which I do get a chance to do when I write for Posh, NM, a local magazine. I sometimes write the introduction article and that's fun too and can be very creative. I put in facts, but I get to be a little silly and, I hope the readers think, humorous.

All writing is creative because you have start with an idea. My nephew wrote a terrific book about sunflowers- Now where did he get the idea to write about sunflowers?? Same way we get an idea for a piece of fiction. Something someone says or does stirs our curiosity and away we go.
The first book I ever had published was about math magic tricks. I saw a man performing magic with numbers and I just had to learn how he did it. Then I started making up math magic trick and just had to get them down on paper. Idea led to book led to publication.

The trick is not to let our ideas get away from us. I keep a pad and pencil by my bed because it seems nighttime is when I get my best ideas. If they aren't written, they will fly away. Of course, I've let a lot of ideas slip by me because I can't read my writing in the morning. So, if I think it's truly an awesome idea, I put the light on to write it down instead of scribbling in the dark.