It starts with a spark. An idea that comes from nowhere, appearing suddenly and without warning, triggered by a sight, a sound, a feeling, an overheard conversation, or even nothing at all. The author grabs that spark and plants it in the fertile "soil" of their brain. There they help it to grow as they pamper, shape, and mold it into a well-developed story. Some stories mature rapidly, becoming fully grown almost immediately. Others take more time...