My ideas often come from strong mental images. When I'm observing some relatively ordinary thing, I'll think, "What if...." and out of that brainstorming a story emerges.

Anyone that looked like that wouldn't need to tie up girls and imprison them in order to get them to marry him

Then again, it was Jace. He'd pick a fight with a Mack truck if the urge took him.

"Jem?" he said. "Is it you, James?" "Who else?" Jem's voice.

Never trust a duck" - Will Herondale "We are bound, you and I, over the divide of death, down through whatever generations may come. Forever." - Will Herondale

The light that burned twice as bright burned half as long.

She closed her eyes and jumped. For a moment she felt herself hang suspended, free of everything. Then gravity took over, and she plunged toward the floor. Instinctively she pulled her arms and legs in, keeping her eyes squeezed shut. The cord pulled taut and she rebounded, flying back up before falling again. As her velocity slowed, she opened her eyes and found herself dangling at the end of the cord, about five feet above Jace. He was grinning. 'Nice', he said. 'As graceful as a falling snowflake.