Yossie Paul

Oh, this is interesting. First, the ideas. These come randomly. I could be talking about one idea, and another one pops up, and I say: "Oh, ok. This is good!" I then proceed to write my ideas in my notebooks so as not to forget. My mind has no boundaries - a blessing and a curse.
Sometimes, if I am super excited, I write the opening paragraph, or some dialogue that might fit in somewhere, later.

When I'm ready to tackle it seriously, I then open the laptop and start to work. Stories and poems could take as long as a day or a month to take shape. I think I'm a slow writer, for the most part.
On rare occasions, the words just flow. I cherish those days. A lot.

Oh, wow. This is tough. I don't know that I remember the FIRST story I ever read. This saddens me. I wish I did.
The first story that had a significant impact on my mindset, however, was 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding. I think I read this at 15, in Year 10. It changed how I conceptualised innocence, childhood, and original sin.