Where Do Ideas come from

I often get asked, where do the ideas come from for my books. I never know what to say. I'm sure I have said in the past that I sit down and plot things out, and I do. That I had a picture in my head for a lead character of The Cambridge Murder Mysteries and built the series around her. That's also true.

But that doesn't answer where the ideas come from.

For me, they seem to appear, while I'm not thinking. And this comes on to a fascinating topic of just how many ideas come from our subconscious. 

I have heard more than once from musicians on how some of their best songs come in ten minutes, just while they were mucking about on the guitar, while the rest of the album (and perhaps the less popular songs) take longer. That sometimes, ideas feel like the are channeled to us.

Another comic I spoke to said he has to sit at his desk for hours on end staring into space before a joke will then land while he's out on a walk. But if he hadn't sat, it would not come.

I have no idea. I try not to over think it. I'm just grateful that I have a lot of ideas. I just want more time to get them all down!

Cx
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