Like Fishing In The Ocean

You know, out of all the questions I’ve faced in interviews over the last thirty years, the one that’s always bugged me the most is the classic: “Where do your story ideas come from?” Honestly, it’s for two main reasons. Most of the time, I haven’t the slightest clue how I stumbled upon that idea. It just pops into my head and refuses to leave. Plus, there’s that awkwardness about sharing my original thoughts in public—I just can’t do it.

That all changed when I read Lisey’s Story by Stephen King. He pretty much gave me the perfect answer to that pesky question. His take on where authors get their ideas makes sense, but I can tell you, it doesn’t always apply to me. Sure, now and then I set sail, casting my nets into the ocean of ideas, hoping to reel in the catch of a lifetime.

Sometimes, I strike gold and come back with a killer story in my bag. But let’s be real—it’s a lot like fishing in an over-fished ocean. More often than not, I return empty-handed, and that innocent white screen in front of me stays untouched.

When I first started writing, publishers were the gatekeepers, deciding which stories and authors made it to the market and into bookstores. Back then, it didn’t matter how many writers were out there fishing; it was all about who could finish the journey from idea to publication first.

But then, everything flipped on its head. Modern technology came crashing into the old literary scene, blowing it wide open for everyone. Suddenly, thanks to Amazon, writers could publish their stories without needing an agent or a publisher. Writers everywhere took to the waters, returning with their nets full of fantastic tales. The market was no longer controlled, but with more authors casting their lines, the waters became crowded and the catch harder to find.

For a while, agencies tried to convince everyone that eBooks were the goldmine they’d been waiting for, leading to a book market that was practically bursting at the seams. But soon enough, the truth came out, and things calmed down a bit. Yet, finding that unique story idea still felt like a challenge. For nearly twenty years, anyone could fish for their perfect tale, and some who never dreamed of being writers jumped in, lured by false promises.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m all for those who found their love of writing through Amazon. There are some incredible authors out there who might never have had a shot otherwise, and I’m grateful for all the great books that came from that. But the downside is that the flood of new books has made it tougher to find those one-of-a-kind ideas. Setting sail now doesn’t guarantee a good haul, and nearly every author faces that struggle at times.

Even though I still use the ocean metaphor when I answer that interview question, I haven’t ventured out there in ages. I’ve discovered a better way to find new stories: by tapping into life itself—nature, my surroundings, and the world we live in. I don’t have to hunt for fresh, unique ideas anymore; our society hands them to me on a silver platter. I just have to listen and observe. You can easily trace the roots of my ideas in today’s headlines. More often than not, I even draw from my own past to fuel my imagination.

Lately, I’ve gone back to my roots. You see, when I was a teenager in the ’90s, almost all my stories began with this one concept: two men having sex. That was the starting point, and from there, I’d build the story. Of course, I didn’t want to dive right in, so I’d start the narrative a bit earlier… and somehow, that initial scene would never make it into the final draft. My characters had a way of taking over and leading the story wherever they wanted.

Honestly, I never had the guts to write a gay sex scene back then. Being gay was illegal when I started, and in my world, it wasn’t accepted. I didn’t want to put myself out there for anyone to speculate about my own sexuality. I was already an outsider among my classmates and didn’t want to face even more bullying.

In recent years, I’ve read a ton of gay romance stories, mostly written by women for women, and honestly? None of them really represented me. Many felt more like hardcore porn than genuine love stories. So, as I struggled with my own coming out, I thought, “Why not try writing this genre myself?” I wanted to create a gay romance that truly reflected the world I belong to.

Over the last decade, I’ve developed these stories but never had the courage to write them down. But recently, that’s changed! Some of those stories are finally in the works, and I’m loving the challenge they bring.

The world is packed with untold stories, and I’m excited to share them now.

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