Some fiction I take almost whole from my life, some fiction I take almost whole from my imagination. My imagination is part of my life, of course, but the unlived part of it. So: whatever inspires a piece of fiction can come moments after I’ve finished experiencing it or can suddenly arise intact from my imagination. A work of fiction though, short or long, has to have a piece of imagination or life’s experience in it. A fiction can’t get away with coming solely from one’s imagination or life. If I’ve muddied my waters with that brief statement, so be it.