Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be alone in your thinking. So, to clear things up for you, here’s my take on it. Dahl was a master storyteller. Even now his stories inspire, they excite and most of all they connect with our inner desire to be special. You can’t help but be taken along for the ride. Stories, of all genres, are magical. They drive us to connect with our imagination were we get to escape; were we can do, be, have anything and, for the short time we are reading, we are the masters of our destiny in gargantua portions.  

And that’s why I write, to inspire you to be, do, have all that you are in this reality we call, ‘Home. I want you to ride high inside your imagination and connect with your inner specialness. Because that’s who you are, special. Always. No exceptions. And good stories can do that.

Stories are how we connect with ourselves and others, so make your story a good one!   

Where do you get your ideas from?
Dreams mostly, and my youngest son, Isaac. The more I write, the more vividly detailed my dreams become. When I do hit a stumbling block or ponder on where or how my plot progresses, I mediate; I clear my mind and poof, the solution flows to me like a bubbling river. I firmly believe that all stories exist (floating around like fluffy clouds in the sky) and all I am really doing is plucking one from the sky and translating it into the physical.   

My sister once said to me: If you have a need to tell a story, then the world has a need to hear it. I also believe in that statement. Which is another reason why I’m committed to telling stories.    

How do I write?
I’m a bit of a traditionalist. I always start each novel idea with a new note book and pen. The mere action of writing by hand in my, very haphazard, left-handed, sort of way aids me in making my ramblings into a, somewhere cohesive plot with relatable, 3D characters. I find scribbling questions down on paper also helps me to find the answers I seek.

I also draw maps and spidergrams to help me make sense of the world I’m building.

Are you a plotter or a fly-by-the-seat of your pants writer?
Plotter. I always start with the ending in mind, my protagonist’s goal and the story’s thematic significance. I use a book map to plot out each chapter along with a mini synopsis that way I can see any plot holes. I find if I have the skeleton of my story then I can relax and really enjoy writing the fleshy parts.  

What do you love about writing?
Escaping into the world I created. I can do anything, be anything and make anything happen. The only limit is my imagination. There are no rules, no expectations and above all, nothing to prove to anyone. I am free to be me, my authentic self. I am the magician weaving magic into my stories. It’s always about the feeling of freedom.

Do you have a writing routine?
I aim to write each week day (weekends are family time and for resting the mind; it’s imperative for the flow of creativity) Even if it’s a paragraph, I write. As far as I’m concerned, showing up and doing, even the littlest bit, is not only honouring myself but it pushes me forward. A small step is still a step towards your overall goal.   

Any advice for new writers?
Listen to your need to write, that burning desire to have your voice heard, even if it’s only you who is listening to it. It’s that inner voice that will push you past the pain, the nagging voice that tells you to stop, it’s too hard, you just can’t do it; you’re not good enough. You are, and then some. Remember, if you have a need to tell a story, then the world has a need to hear it. You are special, you are needed and you are enough.

Now go and write YOUR masterpiece; tell your story in a way only you can. And, most importantly, never give up.

There’s a world out there waiting to hear what you have to say!