Where I Find Inspiration for My Romance Books
There’s a special kind of magic in finding inspiration for a new story. As an author, I constantly have moments and experiences that make my heart race and my imagination soar, leading me to say, “That would be a great idea for my next novel…” Even seemingly everyday scenarios can become the soul of a story. It’s all a matter of keeping an open mind (and, yes, writing these ideas down so I don’t forget them!).
Books I Love
Reading books is probably the biggest way I stay motivated to keep writing. If I’m in a book slump, I’m often in a writing slump, so it benefits me to keep reading as much as I can! Good books get me thinking on my own stories, and most importantly give me models for the kind of writing I like to produce. When I read something with incredible writing, the next thing I want to do is sit down, open Scrivener, and get to work. Kate Clayborn is an excellent example of an author’s whose writing style inspires me—her books are beautiful, heartfelt, and just the right amount of humorous.
My Own Travels
I love using the destination as a driving force for the romance, and the place helps me develop the plot. My books involve a travel/vacation element, or at the very least, an immersive destination that is essentially its own character in the book. I have a bad case of wanderlust, so places I’ve traveled provide a big source of inspiration for me. Setting is and will always be a key consideration when I’m writing a romance novel. I could never write a book that’s set in some nondescript city or a completely unmemorable town. Traveling through the pages of a book is such a wonderful gift, and a particular setting can create unique conflicts.
(If you don’t believe me, refer to chapter 2 of my novella, Match Made in the Maldives. Gas Station Island is real, and I’ve been there for the exact same reason Luna and Finley end up there.)
Actually, the whole reason I wrote Match Made in the Maldives was because I traveled there alone. In 2019, I was working as a travel journalist at the time and flew there solo to meet up with a couple other journalists for a press trip. While on the flight to Malé, I saw another woman traveling by herself and knew she had to be one of the other journalists for this trip. After all, who goes to the most romantic destination in the world alone?
Thus, my first novella was born. It started with the place and figuring out why someone would travel there not for a honeymoon and not with a love interest, and then the story grew from there.
People Watching
Acting like a nosey little fly on the wall and witnessing people’s interactions restores my faith in humanity and reminds me how romantic the world really is. There's something profoundly moving about observing the small, often unnoticed moments that pass between people. A subtle touch on the shoulder, shared laughter, or unrequited glances. When I'm sitting in a café or simply waiting at an airport, I’m captivated by the human connections unfolding before me. I’ve even gotten a brilliant idea watching a photographer at work during a concert.
There are a lot of not-great things going on in the world, and it’s these candid moments that highlight the essence of love, the beauty of unspoken words, and the strength of the bonds between two people. Simple, daily interactions between strangers are a treasure trove of inspiration. They’re a great reminder that romance is not just about grand gestures but also about the everyday moments that build a sturdy foundation of love.
Social Media
TikTok is my go-to social media platform for a burst of inspiration, and videos often give me a great spark of an idea for a plot. Say what you will about the app, but if you get on the right side of TIkTok, you’ll get to see many lovely, unexpected moments between people, offering glimpses into lives and interactions that are both heartwarming and surprising. The spontaneity of these moments gets my creativity going and gives me places to start for clever, unique premises.
The app’s global reach means I get to see a diverse array of experiences that I might not ordinarily see, each of them adding a different tool to my author toolkit. I save these videos in a “Novel Ideas” collection, hoping one day they might inspire a scene, a character, or even an entire storyline.
Inspiration really is everywhere if you keep an open heart and a curious mind. Not every well of inspo is one you’ll want to drink from, though (I, for one, really struggle with film and tv. I may finish watching something and have a great idea…but I can’t get the source story out of my head). These are simply the ones that work best for me, and they’re the ones I turn to time and time again. In your own writing, go to where you sense those sparks, and use them to fuel your imagination!
