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As it approached time to begin work on her new novel Cult Classic, writer Sloane C. Crosley was unable to find an inspiration source in a single place. She was certain that she would like to create a deep examination of love and relationships, but elements of the story came from everywhere including personal research and a disused synagogue on the Manhattan's Lower East Side.

That combination of resourcefulness and creativity is also what assists Sloane deal with the many needs of an experienced writer. Discover the ways that Cult Classic has its writer rereading various cult manifestos, and the way she manages to fit in writing as well as administrative work and how her website allows her to maintain her web presence, while also giving her the freedom to sprinkle in some surprises for readers.

Inspirational ideas to be found within the ordinary

Cult Classic tells the tale of Lola, a magazine editor in New York who, though she's recently engaged, feels some discontent with her relationship. One night, she bumps into an ex-boyfriend, followed by another. Lola quickly realizes the existence of a cult led by her former boss is purposefully placing these exes on her way in order to conduct an research project. What ensues is a hilarious and thoughtful narrative about revisiting the past and, maybe getting over it.

Sloane can't pinpoint a specific "aha" moment that shaped the idea behind the novel however, her personal experience with wellness and modern dating went into the story. "I think that anybody reading this will be their own wellness and dating expert by now," she says. "We're all so immersed in the subject matter, and they often appear as satire in the novel."

She did do some very particular reading on cults in order to ensure that the details exactly right. "I required manifestos or documents from within to borrow from the language for comedy purposes," Sloane says.