Joy Crain asked Melanie Dickerson:

Hey, Melanie, I started reading some of your books this year and have really enjoyed them. I aspire to be a writer too but my genre is Christian Contemporary Fiction and sometimes I have trouble coming up with inspiration for different characters or how to describe a person's feelings or actions when I am writing. Do you have any suggestions?

Melanie Dickerson Hi, Joy! This is probably the question I get more often than any other. For me, I talk out my story with a friend or family member, which helps, and they sometimes throw out ideas that are also helpful. I watch movies that might spark an idea, or I just relax and ruminate over the story and characters. I also purposely think about my story and characters while doing mundane tasks like washing dishes, driving, or taking a shower. The important thing is not to stress over it, because stress impedes inspiration and creativity. I hope that helps!

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