Where Do Ideas Come From?

  The other day, I had one of those lovely, long dreams where I was teaching. Or, rather, I was speaking to a group of young people. They...

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Where Do Ideas Come From?

 


The other day, I had one of those lovely, long dreams where I was teaching. Or, rather, I was speaking to a group of young people. They were students in my dream, older ones. Some of them might have been in college, for all I knew. But they asked me, or rather their teacher did, if I might speak to them about writing.

The first question lobbed my way was how I came up with my ideas.

I told them that I didn’t go looking for ideas; the ideas just came to me.

You can’t force that kind of stuff.

One of my routines is to reach for some calm. I don’t know if you do something like this, but it involves a tiny bit of ceremony. Mine isn’t flamboyant or involves sweating up a storm walking in the morning. No, mine is a cup of coffee, though I only do that one in the morning. It mostly hinges on reaching for stillness, for emptiness. I seek stillness, calm, peace. I try to become one who listens. I wait for an idea. I pretend I am ready.

Sometimes, it works right then. Other times, being in that small state of readiness is enough.

Mostly, what I write these days on all the different platforms where I write is of the moment. Whatever occurs to me. Now, if I were working on a book, that would be a different matter. If you had a writing assignment, then the focus of your writing would involve whatever you’d been asked to write about.

My main theme is empowering people to reach for their dreams. I want to be someone who motivates others. I want to spread happiness, kindness, and sunshine wherever it is needed.

One of the things I want to bring awareness to is a person’s psychic senses. I call it woo-woo, but it’s really just you using your other senses to a different level.

Sometimes, I even picture the people who might be reading what I write, but mostly, as in the dream, it involves a group of people who are interested.

You’ve got to pretend this stuff. Most of us don’t get paid for the writing we do. All that builds slowly as you develop your craft. I guess, mostly, I want to encourage others to read and write. It would be nice to know others who do that. I missed that growing up. I lived in too many places, and well, people just didn’t like to do that. We did for school assignments, but I never really met anybody who just liked to read and write for the sheer joy of it. Wait, no, that isn’t right. My mother was a reader. Maybe that’s where it comes from. That would make sense.

The way I write, I wait for it to come. I have to put dread and worry out of my way. I have faith that something is going to occur to me that is going to be worth writing about.

Stephen King was once asked where his ideas came from. I wondered too. In those days, I was a wanna be writer, and I just didn’t have a clue. He said he walks out into the desert and walks. As he walks, he also looks around, and something will appear to be sticking up out of the sand. He said he would dig it up. I’ve thought about that for years. I believe he said the desert because that is the clear place in his mind that he ventures into. It makes sense. Something sticks up to catch your attention. It’s sort of what happens with me.

If you’d like to learn more about what Stephen King thinks about writing, buy a copy of his book On Writing.

Another thing that happens to me often is while I am reading what others write, both in books and more so, on the internet. They will be talking about something, and my brain starts pinging. It’s like popcorn popping. I can’t control it. I have to move to a blank piece of paper and start writing. I am not stealing their idea. I’m reacting to it.

I suppose, if you think about it, we are all playing an instrument in an orchestra. Together we can make a big, beautiful noise.

Thanks for reading. Follow me for more.

Thanks for reading. I’ve listed a bunch of other places where I write online below.

🌺 Pauline Evanosky

 ðŸŒºMy Links:

Talking To Spirit — my website since 2001
Pauline Evanosky on Medium
Talking To Spirit on Substack

Pauline Evanosky — my author’s website

My Table of Contents for Medium — Updated Monthly
My Table of Contents for Substack — Also Updated Monthly

Facebook for shorter pieces

References I recommend on your path to more psychic awareness from TalkingtoSpirit.com
 

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Dreams

 

On my author's website, I talk about a lot of things. In this instance, this piece is based on a dream I had early this morning, just as I awakened. It is about getting and staying motivated and the dreams you have. No matter what you are doing in life, I figured this might help a little bit.

What is it that you want from life? You know it won’t get handed to you on a silver platter. You’re going to need to work for it.

How?

Well, pick a dream. Any dream. One dream. If you want a life of financial stability, you’ll need a job, a wealthy family, or a partner. Best to count on the job.

Okay, now what?

Work.

What if they fire me?

Why would you think that?

Well, it happens.

Are you a good worker?

Yes.

Is there anything at your job you can aspire to?

Like what?

Well, do you know what the people do who make more money than you do?

I could find out.

Okay, that’s your next step.

What if they went to school?

Okay….then, you could go to school too, right?

Yes, I suppose so.

Find out what sorts of skills those others have and then try to improve your own skills. This is no guarantee you are going to get promoted. It will ensure, though, that somebody in your company is going to realize that you’ve got something more to offer the job. Make an effort. Don’t wait for an offer. Live as if you’ve already been promoted.

This means classes that you pay for. This means you find someone to mentor you on the job, train you, and advise you. Those people are there. If you show enthusiasm and aren’t a drag on their own work, before you know it, they will be asking you to help with projects, or someone they know will ask for your help. You likely won’t get paid for it at first, but over time, you will get noticed and promoted.

What about if I change my mind?

Okay. That’s fine. Change your mind. People do all the time. Once they are in the water, they realize it’s either too hot or too cold and want to get out of the pool. That does not mean you are a loser. That just means you’ve changed your mind. Find another dream.

But that means I’ll be starting over.

Yes. Your point?

Well, that means I’ve got to start all over again.

Right. I heard you the first time.

Doesn’t that mean I’m a failure?

Of course not. You’re starting a new dream. You are not going to start at the top. Nobody ever starts at the top. They always start at the bottom.

Okay, so what do I do?

What did you do with your first job? Do that.

Okay.

You don’t sound sure of yourself.

I’m not.

You’re young. You’ve got lots of time ahead of you. Use it to good advantage. Success in this life does not always mean a parking place in front of the building or a salary that will allow you to live in a mansion. Those things can take years to have. Just put one foot in front of the other. Don’t give up on your dreams. Stay active. Don’t get hooked on alcohol or drugs. Be responsible. Don’t be a drag on others.

Volunteer your time to help others. Network. You’ll meet lots of people. Make yourself some business cards. If you don’t have a printer and a computer, have some made. Simple ones. Your name and email or phone number. Remember that people, as they reach middle age, begin to have trouble seeing. Don’t make the font too small on your business cards. Go online and order some. At Vistaprint, you can get 50 of them for $10. Or 100 for $15.99.

Or just make your own on your own computer and printer. I make mine up in batches of 10 on a piece of cardstock. That way, if I feel like a wavy blue background or a bunch of flowers, I can do that. I make mine in Publisher, though you can make a really simple one in Word using a business card label -> Word -> Mailings -> Labels – Select something like Avery 28371 for a business card, which is 3 ½ inches by 2 inches.

You’d do best by searching Google or your preferred search engine. By this time (I made my business cards 20 years ago), I’m sure there are lots of places online where you can design them more easily. Yes, professional cards will look best, but if you’ve never had one before or aren’t sure what you want on them, making your own is a good way to go. I keep different ones in my wallet depending on what I want people to know… psychic… writer… old lady contact. Some have my telephone number, and others just my email address.

Thanks for reading. I’ve listed a bunch of other places where I write on the internet

🌺 Pauline Evanosky

 ðŸŒºMy Links:

Talking To Spirit — my website since 2001
Pauline Evanosky on Medium
Talking To Spirit on Substack

Pauline Evanosky — my author’s website

My Table of Contents for Medium — Updated Monthly
My Table of Contents for Substack — Also Updated Monthly

Facebook for shorter pieces

References I recommend on your path to more psychic awareness from TalkingtoSpirit.com