A good short-story writer has an instinct for sketching in just enough background to ground the specific story.
Ideas aren't magical; the only tricky part is holding on to one long enough to get it written down.
I'm always trolling for trivia.
One of my great passions is the collection of historical trivia.
Editors of open anthologies actively seek submissions from all comers, established and unknown. They are willing to read whatever the tide washes up at their feet.
It's been a long time since I've written old-fashioned sword and sorcery; I'm hoping it's like riding a bicycle.
