Writers Answering The What If For Readers

How does an author come up with an interesting story? Sometimes you need look no further than your hometown.
You know the people, those unique and often eccentric individuals with local nicknames who’ve made you say, “I wonder what that person’s all about?”
My hometown has a number of these standout people.
For instance, there’s Bookman. Bookman has been reading nonstop for nearly ten years. Each day, he can be found walking down the main road with a book in hand, his eyes focused on another world. Somehow, he navigates the sidewalk to get to and from wherever he’s going. Bookman gets even more interesting at night. That’s when he turns on his “headlight” (literally a small flashlight strapped to his head) so he can read in the dark. I’d love to stop and ask him how many books he’s read or how he keeps from tripping. But what if there’s more to Bookman’s than simply being an avid reader? What if he’s been placed under a curse, where if he ever stops reading, something terrible will happen?
We also have Angelwalker. Not sure how he got that name, because he doesn’t look like and angel. Rather, Angelwalker is an elderly fellow in better shape than most marathon runners. Why? Because Angelwalker seems to daily walk across town, at least five or ten miles, for reasons unknown. He’s usually shirtless in the summer, sporting a tan that would make Spring Vacationers scowl with jealousy. How old is Angelwalker? He looks about seventy. But what if he’s older? What if he’s way older? Immortal? Maybe he’s like Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, blessed with eternal life until his earthly task is complete?
Did you notice what happened in the previous two paragraphs? I took two real, interesting people, and let my imagination start churning. Let’s face it, Bookman is just a man who enjoys books a whole lot, and Angelwalker is nothing more than a healthy elderly fellow who, due to a lack of car, or love for walking, travels on foot everywhere he goes. But as a writer, you have the power to take the normal, and make it extraordinary.
That’s what readers want.
They want to see the things and people they witness in everyday life translated into something more interesting, fascinating, and exciting. Even non speculative fiction works, such as romance novels, adventure, and mystery are powered by embellishments. Readers get to live through the embellished characters and situations in a way most don’t get to on earth. And we author’s let reader’s experience this “what if”. You know, the “what if” that guy who reads so much is something more? Or “what if” that elderly fellow who walks a lot is immortal?
As writer’s, always be looking for your next story idea. I’ve only recently been taking notes when a person, place or thing inspires me. I wish I’d done more in the past. I’d have a whole library of tales to tell! And don’t be afraid if something inspires a story outside your usual genre. If you’re a writer, as long as you have something that seems fascinating in your own mind, then your reader will share in that fascination when that story is transferred from your imagination to the written word.