Inspiration for writing a book can usually be found in your purpose. Why are you writing this book? Why are you writing that essay… paper… article…short story?
Before you can draw on your inspiration, you have to decide what it is that you want to say. Do you want to make a statement about the human condition? Or are you trying to make a statement about how victims of bullies are voiceless? What do you want to say?
Then, you can pull in some inspiration. Did you read a fascinating article about someone who overcame being bullied from which you can draw ideas?
Are you writing a story about a girl who learns a lot about herself through a break up? Well, have you been through a break up? You can use those types of things to inspire your writing and add depth to the emotions, especially if you have gone through a similar instance.
I once read somewhere (Gee, big surprise there! Please note that if you want to write, you should always be reading!) that people who say they can’t write about something because they haven’t lived it are short changing themselves. It is not necessary for you to live something to write about it. It does help with the authenticity, but if you select the write words, you can create the emotion behind the words you want to stimulate in the reader. However, you have probably read something, seen something, watched on TV, etc. whatever it is that you want to write about, so don’t worry.
I find my inspiration and ideas in what I read, witness, or watch. Sometimes it is a conversation overheard, and other times, it is something that I have heard/read and said, “Hmm. If you twisted that around a little, it would make a great story.”
And don’t be Edgar Allan Poe and write what people want to read (I mean, can we please just let vampire love die! Please?). Write what you would want to read. Poe wrote detective stories, but it was at the time when the Gothic trend from England was just starting to reach the United States. No one wanted to read detective stories. They all wanted dark, supernatural stories, and because he wanted to be paid, he started writing those. Was he good at it? Yes. But he was an excellent writer. These days, there are many different interests. Romance, paranormal, and horror that seem to intrigue readers.
If you are going to be happy and comfortable writing, then you should write what makes you happy.
