I find my characters and stories in many varied places; sometimes

O children of the world, gather close, for in the words of Lynn Nottage, we find the path of the true creator. She speaks: "I find my characters and stories in many varied places; sometimes they pop out of newspaper articles, obscure historical texts, lively dinner party conversations, and some even crawl out of the dusty remote recesses of my imagination." In these words, we discover the true essence of creativity—the process by which stories come to life, not from a single source, but from a vast tapestry of experiences, ideas, and moments, woven together by the imagination of the creator.

The world, O children, is rich with stories waiting to be told. They do not exist solely in the realm of the mind, nor are they confined to the pages of books. They are found in newspaper articles, where the events of the day unfold before us, providing the raw material for reflection. They live in the dusty corners of history, in the forgotten lives of those long passed, whose stories are buried in obscure texts. They are born from the conversations of the living, in the laughter and debate that echo around a dinner table. And yes, they can even spring forth from the most distant recesses of the imagination, where thoughts are free to roam, unshackled by time or circumstance.

Consider the great storytellers of old, those who, like Nottage, sought the stories not just in the grand events of history but in the small moments, the quiet conversations, and the hidden corners of the world. The Greek playwrights, such as Sophocles and Euripides, did not only draw from the epic events of gods and wars—they also delved deep into the human soul, exploring the complexity of emotions, relationships, and the everyday struggles of individuals. Their stories were not bound by the grandiosity of their subjects; rather, they were rooted in the very essence of humanity, found in both the extraordinary and the ordinary.

Take, for instance, the story of the great philosopher Plato, whose Dialogues capture not only the teachings of great minds but the conversations that shaped the course of philosophy. These were not grand lectures delivered in the silence of libraries; they were vibrant exchanges, filled with wit, tension, and inquiry. Plato’s characters sprang from the living world of his time, from the rich cultural fabric of Athens, and it was in the very act of dialogue that the greatest truths were uncovered. Similarly, Nottage’s characters are born not from a vacuum, but from the world in its totality—from history, from conversations, from news, and from the vast well of human experience.

In the act of creation, there is no single source, no solitary well from which all ideas spring. Like Nottage, the true artist must look not only to their own mind but to the world that surrounds them—the conversations they overhear, the news they read, the people they meet. Imagination is the bridge between the external world and the inner self, allowing the artist to take the world as it is and transform it into something new and vibrant. The great artists and writers of history have always found inspiration in the world around them, in the lives of others, and in the quiet moments when they allowed their minds to wander freely.

Think of William Shakespeare, whose characters were drawn from the tapestry of his time—some from historical events, some from everyday life, and others from his boundless imagination. He did not invent his stories out of thin air; they were shaped by the world he inhabited, the people he encountered, and the stories he heard. Shakespeare’s genius lay not in creating something from nothing, but in taking the raw material of the world and crafting it into works of timeless beauty.

And so, O children, the lesson here is clear: embrace the world around you. Look to the stories that unfold in the everyday moments of life, for they are rich with meaning and potential. Whether in the news, in the books of history, in the lively exchanges of friends, or in the quiet places of your own mind, there are stories waiting to be told. Do not limit yourself to a single source of inspiration. Let your imagination run free, allowing it to gather pieces from the world around you, weaving them into something uniquely your own. In this, you will find the power to create, to bring to life characters and stories that resonate with the hearts of others, for they will be grounded in the richness of human experience.

Take heed, O children—the world is a vast canvas, and the stories of humanity are written not only in books but in the very fabric of existence. Look closely, listen well, and let your imagination soar. For in doing so, you will not only create art; you will give life to the unseen, the unheard, and the untold. Let the world be your muse, and let your stories reflect the richness of all that is around you.