There are so many ways that authors claim to have been inspired to write their books; vivid dreams, train-rides, childhood fears, even other works of fiction. Normally, you can't just force an idea out of yourself. Your idea chooses you and strikes.
The first thing you must think is, 'Hey, have I read this book before?'. Most of the time, the answer is in the affirmative. Surprisingly, many people who read really good books want to write one exactly like it. STOP RIGHT THERE. Restrain yourself from doing this. Once you get past the week long natural high of a really good read, you'll just be really happy that you enjoyed something so nice and then you'll dive into a new book. As opposed to you writing like a maniac something that is not truly your idea, finishing that week-long high, and ending up with a few hundred words of nothingness that will never be finished. Now that's just depressing.
You want your book to blow someone's mind away.
Not 'that sounds like Harry Potter'.
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