Those two words are the only magic a writer needs. They have been a mantra for me for many years as stories have developed from the mere notion of possibilities.
What if…A disgraced former Wichita cop who now is the chief of security at a casino in Minnesota is drawn home because of a mysterious phone call referencing the fate of his younger brother. (“Swan Song”, currently out of print.)
What if…A series of murders are occurring around the country in which criminals who haven’t been prosecuted or got off are being executed and a team of profilers finally determine it is the same perpetrator. (“The .9 mm Solution”, currently out of print.)
What if…A disfigured World War I veteran, now a beat cop in a small Kansas town, determines a new guy in town is likely a Chicago gangster and a key to his past. (“Ark City Confidential.“)
What if…A divorced forty-something man who hates his job and the petty commercialization of today’s society takes up contract killing to relieve his boredom. (“Weekend Getaways, or Adventures in Contract Killing”, unpublished.)
You watch the news, read a magazine article, have a general conversation, and, if you are perceptive, the possibilities materialize in your mind’s eye like a High Definition Wide-Screen movie and you follow along gleefully. That’s the key: being aware, being open, making yourself ready to recognize when stories fall into your lap.
We know there is much work after that. Outline, plotting, story arc, character development, your agent, your publisher, your editor, etc. But it starts somewhere very special. All with a simple…What if!
The Tikiman Says... 