Opening Doors

I suppose it’s reading that opens doors most for me. In my ongoing research, I’ve been reading about Jamie Wilkerson, an incredibly corrupt and devious politician from the early 1800s. One day last month, a door opened in my mind, and not a door to a closet. This new door led to a long corridor with lots of other doors. Just what I’m eager to find.

Wilkerson could be a great villain for my next novel. Putting him in that role gave me the long corridor with other doors because I immediately started “casting” other characters, real life and imaginary, in roles as heroines and enablers, all the familiar parts people play in novels. It’s like these people had their names on other doors that I discovered as I walked down this long corridor in my mind.

Most of the doors I think of lead nowhere. When I find a door that opens on such a long corridor, with other doors, I know I’ve got a story worth pursuing. That’s the best way I can think of to describe how the lights go on in my head.

So I’m hot at work now. You’ll see the results someday.