Goodreads asked Gerry Baird:

How do you get inspired to write?

Gerry Baird Every time an idea comes to me, I jot it down. Then I periodically review my ideas and use the words, "If I were ..." to stimulate thought. For example, I might jot down the idea "write a book about leadership," and then I'll ask myself, "If I were to write a book about leadership, what would the cover look like? What would the title be? What concepts would it contain? What format would I use to present my ideas? What need would it fill? Who would my primary audience be? How would I make my book stand out from the many other books about leadership?" Sometimes an idea never makes it further than the realm of thought, but other times it begins to take on a life of its own. When I find an idea I like, I write down everything I think a reader will want to know about that idea. Those concepts form the basis of my outline, and once I'm happy with my outline I'll begin writing.

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