Harlan Coben Answers the Age-Old Question: “Where Do You Get Your Ideas?”
This first appeared in Lit Hub’s Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. Cultivating a writer’s mind frame means looking at the world a certain way—that is, as a source of material. Everything you see is a potential writing prompt. Everything you experience
Harlan Coben often ponders the question, "Where do you get your ideas?" The answer, according to Coben, is simple - curiosity. He states, "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." Coben believes that genuine curiosity, particularly childlike curiosity, is essential for generating ideas. He explains that true innovators continue to ask "what if" questions, which lead to the development of ideas.
For instance, Coben shares a story about overhearing teenagers discussing drinking and driving. Feeling obligated to help, he approached the teens and made a promise to them. He used this experience to craft a novel, "Promise Me." The novel begins with a teenage girl, Aimee, calling a hero, Myron Bolitar, at 2 a.m. due to this promise.
As the story unfolds, Myron drives to pick Aimee up and drop her off at a friend's house the next day, only to find out she's missing. This series of events creates conflict, situations, and a world for Coben to explore.
Coben highlights the importance of asking "what if" questions, as they lead to conflict, situations, and a ripe world. The key is to keep the writer's mindset, constantly asking questions and exploring different possibilities. Coben's backpack is always with him, filled with writing tools and snacks, ready to capture any idea that strikes him. His advice is to always be ready to write, as the "muse" may wander or find another partner.
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