Where Did That Idea Come From? By Donna M. Cramer

Ever wonder where writers get their ideas?

People ask me this all the time. The truth is, story ideas can come from the most unexpected places—even an online article about Las Vegas.

Writers are often asked how they come up with their story ideas.

For me, the short answer is: an idea just pops into my head.

I don’t spend hours, days, or weeks meditating or praying for inspiration—it simply appears. Sometimes I hear a snippet of dialogue in my head, jot it down, and build a story from there.

Once I have that initial spark—whether it comes from God, the universe, or just my own mind (you may choose whichever you prefer)—the real work begins. I have to develop the idea.

My latest adult novel, Vegas Goodbye, tells the story of two grief-stricken individuals who, unknown to each other, decide to travel to Las Vegas to end their lives.

The inspiration for this novel came from real life. My husband and I enjoy visiting Las Vegas and usually take a trip there once a year. One evening, while browsing an online magazine for new sights or attractions we might explore, I stumbled across an article—not about entertainment, but about the alarmingly high suicide rate in Las Vegas. It explained that many people choose Las Vegas as a place to die, in part to spare their families the trauma of discovering them.

That article stayed with me. It stirred my imagination, and I began to think about two characters and the specific traumas that might drive them to such a place.

I’m not one to use outlines. I simply sit at the keyboard and start typing. Sometimes what comes out is pure drivel—but sometimes, usable scenes, dialogue, and backstory emerge.

I often carry characters around in my mind for months, slowly developing their personalities and voices.

It takes time—months, sometimes years—to shape a coherent narrative. But it always starts with one small seed of an idea.

💭 What about you?

Ideas can come from anywhere. What unexpected source has sparked your creativity? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

If you're curious to see how this particular spark turned into a novel, check out my latest release, Vegas Goodbye, now available from Kirk House Publishers.

📚 About the Author

Donna M. Cramer is a retired special education teacher and the author of the Lester Lion children’s book series. Her work has appeared in TBI Hope Magazine, and her writing often centers on healing, resilience, and hope. Donna's debut adult novel, Paul Is Missing, is followed by her newest release, Vegas Goodbye. She writes with honesty, heart, and a deep belief in the power of second chances.

Follow Donna's journey at Kirk House Publishers.