And now it’s time for a new writing muse. I’ve found inspiration in some of the oddest places. This overgrown fountain (left) is located in downtown Dilsborro, North Carolina. I love how the fountain is covered in ivy, mainly because you can’t really see what is underneath. It sparks curiosity.

Finding inspiration in everyday items such as this is often as easy as asking yourself the six question words we learned in elementary school:

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Why?
• How?

What is underneath the ivy? A statue? Te secret to long last treasure engraved in the stones? A secret entrance to an underground laboratory? (We’re writers. The answer should never be boring.) Why was the fountain abandoned? Is it haunted? Did the owners die? When did that happen? Who might be involved? Possibly the caretaker knows a secret about the fountain that only a few in history have been privy to. Where can I locate this fountain in my story to create atmosphere? Why does this fountain matter? (Don’t mention the fountain if it doesn’t have a purpose.) How can my character unlock the secrets of this fountain?

Questions like these can ignite the spark that will become the backbone of your story. If you need inspiration, take this fountain make it your own. Unlock the story behind it, and let it unfold before your eyes. (Make sure to share what you did with it in the comments if you end up using it.)

Ready? Set? Write!

Fantasy novelist M. B. Weston is the author of The Elysian Chronicles, a fantasy series about guardian angel warfare and treason. Weston speaks to children, teens, and adults about writing and the process of getting published. For more information on M. B. Weston, visit www.mbweston.com. Find out more about The Elysian Chronicles at www.elysianchronicles.com.