Often my characters have some kind of idealism or grand belief that they're pursuing.

Sometimes you'll read something and think, "What is going on here? There must be more to this." The constraints of the news format didn't allow for more detail, or the writer didn't see it or just wasn't interested.

I've gotten used to spending more time with heavily narrative stories.

Sometimes, I'll read a news story and there will be one line about something else, and I'll find it interesting and look into it. That can often turn into an entire story on its own.

You exist in the minds of other people.

Often my characters have some kind of idealism or grand belief that they're pursuing.

I'm always reading. And I keep a whole list of stories, often unusual stories. There are a hundred some-odd ideas on that list.