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When it came time to work on her new novel Cult Classic, writer Sloane Crosley was unable to find inspiration in just one place. She knew that she would like to create a deep study of dating and love, but elements of the story took inspiration from every source, including personal research and the disused synagogue located in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

That combination of resourcefulness and imagination is what also assists Sloane deal with the many needs of a professional writer. Learn what Cult Classic was able to get its writer rereading the cult manifestos. Also, learn her method of balancing both administrative and writing work, and how her site allows her to maintain her web presence while giving her the freedom to sprinkle in some fun surprises for those who visit.

Find inspiration for creativity within the ordinary

Cult Classic tells the story of Lola an editor of a magazine living in New York who, though she's just engaged, is feeling a sense of dissatisfaction with her relationship. One night, she bumps into one of her ex-boyfriends, then another. Lola soon discovers the existence of a cult led by her former boss is intentionally putting the exes of these men on her way as part of an research project. The story that follows is an entertaining and thoughtful narrative about revisiting the past and maybe getting over the past.

Sloane isn't able to pinpoint an exact "aha" moment that shaped the idea behind the novel, but her own experiences of wellness culture and contemporary dating were incorporated into the novel. "I believe that everyone reading this will be the ultimate wellness and dating experts in the present," she says. "We're all so immersed in these topics, that they can take the form of satire in the novel."

Sloane did some particular reading on cults in order to ensure that the details just the way she wanted them. "I required manifestos or documents from within and could then borrow from the language for comedic purposes," Sloane says.