A Little Bit of Magic

Sometimes inspiration just shows up—like a lightning bolt, a great idea, or a story that pops into your head out of nowhere.
And sometimes? It is stubborn and absolutely does not.

That’s where manifesting comes in.

I like to think of manifesting as inviting inspiration over instead of waiting for it to knock. When I feel stuck, bored, or totally out of ideas, I create inspiration on purpose. One of my favorite ways to do that is with a photo collage—like the one on my screen saver shown above.

It’s filled with things that make my imagination wake up: spooky places, creepy characters, mysterious items. I also throw in a few manifestations like being a best seller, getting views; successes I hope to achieve one day soon.

When I see it every day, my brain starts doing something sneaky (in a good way).
It starts dreaming.
It starts connecting dots.
It starts creating stories before I even realize it.

That’s manifesting.

You don’t have to wait for inspiration to magically appear. You can build it—one image, one idea, one spark at a time. When you surround yourself with things that excite your imagination, you’re telling your brain, Hey, we’re ready for adventure.

And the coolest part?
Inspiration almost always listens.

✨ Try this:
Create your own inspiration collage—on paper, on your screen, or even in a notebook. Fill it with places you want to explore, things you want to achieve, or worlds you’d want to step into. You might be surprised by the stories that start finding you.

Because sometimes, the magic isn’t waiting to be discovered—
it’s waiting to be invited.

People often ask me how I come up with story ideas. The truth is, it’s when I am doing the most mundane tasks.

I can be driving in my car listening to the radio and hear a song that is moody and dark and think about a haunted forest. Sometimes I hear the name of a song and I think , “OH! That would make a great title of a book.” I recently watched a TV series that was set at the Arctic Circle and thought, “I know exactly how I can turn that into a mysterious adventure. HINT: I have already outlined for a future book.”

Ordinary places make the best spooky stories

When I hear a dark desolate road or a dense forest in the middle of nowhere I immediately associate something creepy lurking in the dark–ready to wreak havoc. It’s most fun to take an ordinary place and build imagery that transforms it from a daytime delight to a nighttime nightmare. For example, take a carnival. By day, a carnival is full of bright lights, fun rides and whimsical delights; however, throw in a werewolf, a beast and some intense imagery the scene morphs into something much more ominous.

That’s why so many spooky stories for tweens and YA readers are set in places kids already know. The fear isn’t overwhelming. It’s intriguing.

Asking “what if?”

Every story starts with a small question:

• What would I do if I were being chased down by a beast that’s let loose in a carnival?
• What if the camp counselors knew more than they were saying?
• What if the house wasn’t haunted—but remembered something?

Those “what if” moments turn into characters, clues, and adventures that keep readers turning pages.

Spooky stories are all about the rush of the unknown

When I write spooky stories for young readers, the goal isn’t nightmares—it’s curiosity, bravery, and imagination. I love stories where readers pick their favorite character and put themselves in their shoes and ask the question: What Would I Do?

Spooky stories help readers explore fear in a safe, exciting way—and sometimes discover they’re braver than they thought.

Story ideas are everywhere

Ideas don’t hide in faraway places. They aren’t always hidden in a dream. They live in everyday moments you almost ignore. Next time you find yourself in an interesting place, camping with friends, on a hike, a car ride in the middle of nowhere, pose the question….

What if?

At Papermoon Parcels, that’s how stories begin. One ordinary place. One strange feeling. One adventure waiting to unfold.