I have always loved to read. I couldn't learn fast enough and once I did, nothing in print was safe from my grubby little paws. For years, much of my spare time has been spent devouring fiction. When I found new authors, I gravitated toward their books first but I always had time (or made time) to look for an interesting book.
As an author, I do the obligatory research I need for my projects but I've found that sometimes, reading a non-fiction book that has nothing to do with my WIP will spur an idea for my current story or suggest a new one. This happy accident has also led me to rediscovering my passion for learning something, simply for the sheer joy of learning.
I just started reading "Guns, Germs, and Steel The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared Diamond. The first paragraph intrigued me by asking the question of why history unfolded differently on different continents (assuring me this book was not about racial differences). It may spark an idea for a story, it may not but I'm looking forward to reading Diamond's book and that's exciting.
Becoming excited about anything is the first step in getting my creative juices flowing again. What about you? Do you have any special interests that might spark an idea or start the flow of creativity?
