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# How the creator of 'Peaky Blinders' uses one word to unlock new worlds
- URL: https://www.howardgray.net/how-the-creator-of-peaky-blinders-uses-one-word-to-unlock-new-worlds/
- Published: 2024-09-09T14:04:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-10-05T16:05:29.000Z
- Author: Howard Gray
- Tags: How-To Guides, Culture & Insights, Creative Business

Picture this: A working-class kid from Birmingham, youngest of 7, no silver spoon in sight. Fast forward, and he's the mastermind behind Peaky Blinders, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, and the next Star Wars screenplay…

How does Steven Knight conjure such diverse stories? Here’s one method he uses that’s laughably simple:

1. Google a topic you're curious about
2. Toss in a random word

For example: 

- New York 1840s watermelons
- Birmingham 1920s horses
- Japan 15th century tax evasion

Suddenly, you're not just reading facts. You're stumbling into drama. Characters emerge. Conflicts simmer. Quirky details jump out.

One word becomes a back door to a library of untold tales. Each search term is a key, unlocking rooms few have explored. Some will be empty, but others…

Intrigued? Have a listen to Steven Knight’s recent appearance on Desert Island Discs (featuring music from Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald and many more). It’s a delight.

[BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Steven Knight, writerSteven Knight, writer, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d8/1a/d81abdb4-b001-4d5e-9a22-7d2a3d72df17/content/images/icon/p0jdrcrh.jpg)BBC![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d8/1a/d81abdb4-b001-4d5e-9a22-7d2a3d72df17/content/images/thumbnail/p0jdrcrh.jpg)](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021xdf?ref=howardgray.net)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some oddball searches calling my name...