Oh yes! The opening scene is based on a recurring dream I had as a child. While my book is fictional, I found the writing really clicked for me once I found that magical balance of weaving parts of myself into the fictional narrative. Some of the secondary characters were also inspired by real people I've known. It's not that I portrayed those people in any explicit detail but rather their essence makes up the central core to the character.
Trust your process! And get out of the way! That's really all it's about. Forget what all the writing coaches and teachers tell you. Everyone's process is unique. You don't have to write at the same time every day. You don't even have to write every day. Just make sure that you DO keep writing, and trust yourself. Sage advice to myself then and now!
