Creative Modifications

Ever wonder where stories come from? Sometimes it’s a dream you can’t shake off. Other times it’s a passing shadow that makes your brain whisper, “What if?”

For me, the idea of monsters hiding in plain sight came from my own family—specifically from watching how they chose not to address certain topics and traumas that shaped my early life. Childhood abuse, the sudden loss of my mother, and complicated relationships between relatives were all swept under the rug. I began to wonder: How would people react if the emotional truths they buried were something much darker? Something of legend? What if the secret wasn’t just an unspoken family issue, but a supernatural danger?

Music was a huge part of my life growing up. In the early ’90s, there was always a soundtrack playing in the background. I still remember the bottom drawer of the nightstand, stuffed full of cassettes, and the big grey stereo with the detachable speakers that sat to the right of our mustard-yellow fridge. My mom would flick it on the second she stepped into the kitchen. I also remember getting scolded for changing the radio station—usually when my little sister, too small to reach, dragged a dining room chair over to the fridge just to twist the dial herself.

Back then, life seemed simple on the surface, but inside me, a quiet war of hurt and betrayal brewed—much of it rooted in my relationship with my grandfather. Despite all that, I loved to make up stories. I’d act them out with my Barbies, begging my sister to join me so I could have that sense of shared fun.

My mom always had the radio on low while she did chores or got us ready for school. Those songs stayed with me. As I’ve grown older, I realize now how much music soothed me, helped me process feelings I didn’t know how to express, and kept me connected to moments I thought I’d forgotten.

Through mental health workshops at the hospital and church, I’ve learned just how much I absorbed from my family about pushing emotions aside. That made me curious about my characters: What happened to them? How do they deal with their pain? How does it shape who they become?Your workspace can be anywhere you are, and inspiration strikes.

A common theme for me is faith and acceptance—especially within family. In my daydreams, I often imagine a world where I give back lavishly to my father and sister, where my niece and nephew’s college funds are set for life, and where my sister finally talks to me on an equal level. In those worlds, I’m not an afterthought. I’m not beneath anyone. I’m my dad’s favorite daughter.

I’ve daydreamed for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it’s an escape from life. Sometimes it’s about awakening a dormant gene that lets me shift into something else. Other times, it’s about surviving an attack that marks me forever—physically, spiritually, or emotionally. I often wonder: How would faith fit into those stories? How do morals and values survive in a world filled with monsters?

A trusted friend once suggested that instead of escaping into daydreams, I should turn to Jesus. And I do. But daydreaming has also been my version of TV—I can skip the intimate scenes or fast-forward through the fights. I focus on the characters, the stories, and especially the conflict. The battle between sin, nature, and one’s own beliefs has always been the core of my creative world.

Sometimes a line of dialogue, a scene from a show, or a conversation I overhear slips into my daydreams. I ask myself: How would that moment play out in my fictional universe?

One thing that always makes me laugh is this: Why are vampires and werewolves always stuck in high school? Like they’d really be fixated on the teenage years for centuries! That’s not how my worlds work.

Creative Modifications isn’t just a catchy blog title. It’s my way of seeing the world—tweaking, adjusting, and adding my own “mods” to the stories we tell ourselves every day. Whether it’s imagining secret societies like the Inxieriea hiding among us or reworking old myths into something modern, the goal is the same: to create spaces where creativity can breathe.

Writing and world-building aren’t about sitting at a desk with everything perfectly planned. For me, it’s about grabbing inspiration whenever it strikes—usually when I’m nowhere near a notebook, of course!

I’m notorious for overthinking the worst-case scenario, though I’m happy to say that’s improved a lot over the last ten years. I’m also a perfectionist—or maybe a lazy perfectionist, since I have a specific way of doing things that feels “right” to me, even if it’s not the fastest path.

Writing this world has been hard. It’s been crawling around in my mind since the early ’90s. Characters like Secret and Jason have changed dramatically as I’ve grown, gone through college, gotten married, and lived life. You’d think that growing up would make writing them easier. It hasn’t.

I’ve had random dreams about Secret for decades—so vivid it feels like they’re sitting beside me. Waking up and realizing it was only a dream is heartbreaking. It’s like losing someone you never really had. But that’s also why I write. Being consumed by characters is one of the few things that makes me feel less alone.

Writing pulls me out of my own head and into The Zone. Honestly, that should be the name of an energy drink for artists and writers! Finding the right place to land a story can feel like trying to skate on oil—one slippery patch after another. But I’m determined, in Jesus’ name, to finish a first draft I’m proud of. Until then, my characters will play. Scenes will be taken out of context. I’ll gather my notes, slips of paper, and spiral notebooks, and get organized. Lord help me.

I want to encourage other writers and readers to be brutally honest about their creative process. Where do you find inspiration? How do you work through creative walls? Could you share it in the comments? Writing clears the mind (and your phone notes) and lifts the spirit. You’re not alone in this—I promise.

Creativity isn’t about perfection—it’s about play. Remember that next time you hit a wall. Stay curious, make stuff, and don’t be afraid to mod your own world along the way.