WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?
From ispiration to the gaming table
I often get a question that seems simple on the surface: “How did you come up with that idea?”
The truth is, I don’t always know. But I’ve given it some thought, and this is my attempt at answering it.
Every idea is born in its own way, at least for me, and the creative process changes from one person to another. That said, there are some common threads. Maybe by talking about mine, I’ll give you something to work with.
Just a quick heads-up: what I’m about to share doesn’t only apply to games. It could just as well be the seed of a story, a character’s story, a session, a campaign: really, anything in the realm of creative writing tied to games.
(A lot of) randomness
To answer the question I just asked myself, I’d have to go through all the games I’ve written one by one.
Don’t worry, I won’t. Also because, for some of them, the honest answer is still: I have no idea.
There’s no set time to create something. Even when deadlines say otherwise, creativity can’t be forced. It’s like trying to sail without wind or ski without snow.
And unfortunately, there’s not always a helpful mental state to lean on either.
Some of my best ideas came to me at work. Others while on vacation. Some in times of high stress. Others in moments of total peace.
Inspiration shows up when you least expect it. So the real question isn’t “How do I create the right mood?”. Instead “How do I recognize the moment when it hits me?”. And trust me, it won’t come tap you on the shoulder.
Learning to listen to yourself is the best place to start.
If inspiration comes in quietly and unannounced, you’ll need to build a mental monitor to pick up the signal.
But even recognizing it isn’t enough. You have to feed it. Otherwise, it’ll vanish as quickly as it came.
It might sound like a huge challenge, and often it is, but honestly, it’s harder to explain than to experience.
There are times when your mind is just more open, more ready to absorb new input. It might be something as simple as wanting to watch a movie or start a new book. But it’s not about killing time. It’s about absorbing.
And in those moments, your mind switches into storage mode. That’s something you can actually guide.
You can tell yourself: “I’m watching this because I want it to inspire something.” And your brain doesn’t just absorb what you’re seeing, it files it away. It gives it a spot on the shelf marked “creative fuel.”
How many times have you completely forgotten a movie, a book, even an entire series you watched?
That’s because your brain recorded it, sure, but didn’t know where to put it. So it shoved it in a corner, waiting for something louder to come take its place.
But when you consciously assign it a space, when you decide it matters, then it sticks. You might not recall it right away, but it’ll be there when you need it.
And when that moment comes? Once again, you’ll need to be tuned in to hear it.
The point is: ideas don’t come when you tell them to.
Creativity doesn’t come from a single source.
The mood to create is cyclical, but never repeats itself the same way twice.
So stay open, to yourself, and to the world. Look for inspiration, even in the most ordinary places: a song, a walk, a landscape you’ve seen a thousand times.
Because one of those overlooked details, tucked away in some dusty corner of your brain, might be exactly what sparks your next big idea.
Thanks for reading, and see you soon!
– Simone