Goodreads asked Adam J. Smith:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Adam J. Smith Inspiration for The Risen is a combination of my love for horror, videogames (The Last of Us), coming-of-age stories, and Nanowrimo. Nanowrimo inspired me to write for quantity over quality; knowing what my aim was, I was able to draw upon collected ideas (who knows from where) and focus them into an adventure, road-trip-esque, horror. Writing for Nanowrimo has to be fast-paced, so I made the story fast-paced (or at least in places) - it was able to lend a quality of speed and adventure which suited the writing style.

I answered another question saying you should always plan. Well, I didn't really plan with The Risen. I had the general world, a character, and a rule for the 'monsters' in the story, but not a lot else. I wanted to see if I could let a story find its own way, much as I've read the likes of Stephen King do. I paid the price in the editing stage, BUT, it really wasn't as bad as it could have been. You are inspired at the end by what you have already accomplished. So I can't recommend Nanowrimo enough.

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