Out of Thin Air...

Have you ever known a person who killed someone? Think hard.

In war soldiers are asked to kill if necessary, and many do just that. I've known mob guys (by first name only) who supposedly killed people - afterall, isn't that the initiation for becoming a "made" member of the "family"? I've also known a hell of a lot of high ranking outlaw bikers, a few of whom I assume have killed people or who have at least seen people killed. None of them ever discussed things like that with me.

However, I once had a good friend (just a citizen, no organizational affiliation) tell me that the first time you kill someone, it's like their soul enters your body and never leaves. He said that, after the first time, it ceases to have any real meaning. How the hell he knew that is beyond me, since I highly doubt he ever participated in any killings, but the thought stuck, and I wrote it into The Biker Chronicles.

Little bits of information like that stick with you, and can give you insight into the thought process of some of your characters. I never modeled any of my characters after that friend, but I did use the words he gifted me with, and it taught me something... Always be on the lookout - even in casual conversations - for stuff that you can use later.

Like most writers, I always keep a notebook and pen with me. When I'm away from home I keep one in the truck. Sometimes I keep a spiral bound index card "book" in my bag for those times when I want to take notes or to do an impromptu "interview" with an interesting person for possible use as background material later on.

Sometimes it seems as though writers just grab ideas out of thin air, but the truth is, they've seen it or heard it somewhere. Writers are sponges. They absorb facts, thoughts, ideas and conversations all the time. Of course, they also forget 90% of what they hear and see, so that's why the notebook is so damn important.

So here's my advice to fledgling writers. Go to Walmart, buy a couple of notebooks and some index cards and a few good ball point pens. Now, start taking notes...