Earlier this year, I spent a few days on the Lisbon coast. I stayed in Cascais, one of the towns along the so-called ‘Portuguese Riviera’, a stretch of coast whose beautiful beaches, south-facing aspect, and frequent sunny days make it a popular holiday destination.

I walked around its cobbled streets, walked across wide-open popular beaches, discovered hidden beaches in coves and gaps in the rocks, which led to secluded caves. These are the moments when the writer thinks ‘I could write a story set here.’ It’s a moment of excitement, a rush of creative possibility. As writers, we are drawn to such magical places – we ask the ‘What if…’ question, and a story emerges like a beautiful image not yet in focus. The characters, drama, and suspense are all there to discover.

The inspiration part is a beautiful period. Endless possibility, unlimited potential. But then comes the perspiration. Back home, away from the Portuguese sunshine, away from the chilled wine and the sound of waves lapping against the rocks, I have to sit down and write 80,000 words. No amount of dreamy ‘What ifs…’ will carry me through this task. Work, work, work. Write, write, write. That’s what it takes to make the wonderful ideas we have as writers into a novel that works. Maybe it won’t work at first. Then you have to fix it. That mean’s more work, more problem solving.

The dreamer says to himself ‘I could write a book set here.’ The writer gets the job done. It’s something we might struggle with a first, but practice and determination pay off. Look at all the writers filling up the top positions in the bestsellers charts. They all began by thinking to themselves, ‘What if…’, before getting to work and finishing the book.