Sparks of inspiration

 Always pay attention. Any element or experience can be a source of inspiration. Many times, this comes out like sparks from a good fire. Creativity does not emerge from a vacuum; observations, emotions, and interactions with the world feed it.

In my case, I always wanted to write a novel about two journalists, one old and wise, the other young and innovative, who could engage in a conversation about the profession, the moral dilemmas they face, and the internal and external fights. It was a latent idea, a seed waiting to germinate.

But in a conversation with my brother in Spain, we discussed the importance of truth and freedom. He favored truth, and I favored freedom as a superlative value. That discussion, that spark of debate, ignited the flame. A change of scenery, a casual chat, and a deep topic can trigger a whole plot. In my case, the discussion about truth and freedom became the core of my novel.

When we returned from Spain, it was clear to me that this novel about the two journalists would be about how they employed one or the other value in their professional lives. After all, these are the two values I had to work with and experience in my life as a journalist and press freedom advocate. My own experience became fuel for the story.

My wife read the first few paragraphs and said, bored, "It's more of the same. Why don't you write something different, something funnier?" And that was the origin—another spark, this time constructive criticism.

Then, I decided to write about truth and freedom, but with a renewed vision and a more universal story that escapes my comfort zone, journalism. Thus, "Robots with Soul: Caught between Truth and Freedom" was born. As I write these posts, I am waiting for responses from literary agents who might be interested in representing my work. We shall see.