My life as a pirate is more beneficial to me than any life I could ever lead. Pirates are of a different mind set. We take instances from our lives that may mean nothing to someone else and make them into so much more. How does a pirate manage to take a scene on a deserted island and make it into something far more worthy than the moment? When she picks up her pen, starts with the island scene, and weaves with words a far bigger tale.

Our everyday lives feed us with fodder for our work. We can look at confrontations with co-workers as just another stressor in our day, but it doesn’t have to be. Make it into that angst-filled scene that you’ve been struggling with night after night. A drink after work with a friend, a teary moment over a commercial on TV, and a lighthearted flirty conversation with a member of the opposite sex can all provide our minds with stimulation that can foster another chapter in our WIP.

When you least expect it life hands you the perfect dialog, or an angst filled situation that you’ve struggled to put on paper. Stories waiting to be told can be found at the end of our fingertips everyday. Americans read a billion tons of paper every year, from newspapers to newsletters, to magazines. We watch movies and TV shows and browse the internet. All of the tasks we complete while not writing, can stimulate ideas for our writing.

Some of the best dialog I’ve ever written were words spoken to me in a conversation when writing was the last thing on my mind. I’ve used emotional scenes in my life to write some of the most emotionally devastating scenes I’ve ever written. Our life is filled with defeats, and joys that don’t have to be lived only once. Defeats, obstacles, and shortcomings don’t have to be blocked memories never to be thought of again. Let your characters overcome them for you, and write the ending that you’ve always wanted.