How to Find a Book Idea you will be Passionate About

'This Lighter Realm' was the first novel I ever finished. It wasn't easy sometimes! When the idea popped into my head, the plot, basis and characters were very different to the final book! It took me a few months to decide on character names, personalities and appearances, complete the world building and plan a vague plot before I started writing it. The first person I showed the idea for This Lighter Realm was my mum. To be honest, she probably thought this was another book idea I would write a chapter and a half of before abandoning (honestly, you should see my 'unfinished novels' folder!). When I created the characters of Seraphyna, Evanie, Seb and their friends, something special sparked inside of me, like a voice assuring me that, eventually, I would actually finish this one. Finally, I had found a set of characters, world, genre and story I was passionate about writing and I had found the book that would eventually become my debut novel! So, my advice for aspiring authors who are struggling to find an idea they want to write is:

1. Start with characters. Personally, I find my favourite way to write is around the characters and their personalities. If you create a set of characters that you love and form relationships between them that you're invested in, then, naturally, you will want to write about them

2. Find the genre that you enjoy and your writing style suits. I spent years thinking that my writing genre was sci-fi and dystopia. Eventually, when I realised that not only did I prefer writing and reading Fantasy and Historical Fiction, my writing style more suited that genre as well. So, all I'm saying is, experiment! Read outside your comfort zone every once in a while (even though I know that's hard to do!) and find out what you like reading and writing!

3. Tell people about your idea! From experience, I know that if you tell someone about your idea and they like it, they'll pester you about how you're getting on with the book. If someone is as passionate about your ideas and writing as you, it will be ten times easier.

Happy Writing!

AJ xx