Picture beginnings

For me, stories often begin with an image -- a short scene unfolding before my mind's eye. Usually I am completely unaware of what the "rest of the story" is, but the scene is so compelling that I want to find out. I do that by starting to write.

SHARRA'S WAR began that way. I had an image in my mind of a tiger telling a girl to follow him. Why was this tiger telling the girl to follow him? How could the girl understand what he was saying? What was their story?

The story unfolded as I wrote. It was a journey of discovery, not only for my main character, but for me as an author.

I think I am on the verge of another journey of discovery, if only I would dare to take the first step. There is an image in my mind that was inspired by the house in this picture. A teenage girl going into this "skeleton house" because she knows her brother would be there. Why has her brother gone into this house? Does he go there often? What is he trying to escape? What is their story? I want to find out.

Maybe this will be my NaNoWriMo project. But I don't think I will know for sure until I sit down to write tomorrow.