Lifecycle of a Story

(artwork by James Jean)

Stories follow an interesting path during their lifetimes. They are brought into existence in the instant of a moment when an idea enters the mind of a storyteller. Like an embryo, they are small but with potential to grow much larger. In their early stages they are often misshapen and hideous beasts, yet there is something beautiful that shows in glimpses or else chooses to linger under the surface. Some never make it to birth. Some die in their withered form, nothing but bones and entrails. Thankfully, others grow and blossom. And when that happens, there is no element of the human imagination that could be more magical.

The Haunting of My Volkswagon

I'm convinced there is a ghost living in my car. The other day, while driving in the fine city of Kingston, the Missus and I had to park beside an old church and its ancient graveyard. "Make sure to roll the windows all the way up," I said. "Don't want a ghost getting in." Knowing that it was already entirely too late.

The ghost hasn't made himself seen just yet, but he will. It's only a matter of time before I'm driving down the highway and his ghostly face appears in the mirror. I imagine him doing nothing but heckling me as I'm trying to drive. That is why I've continued to roll down the windows whenever I pass a graveyard and try to shoo him away. Everyone knows once a ghost gets settled, they're impossible to evict.

On the bright side, perhaps he's a mechanic and can take care of a few things that need fixing. However, the important lesson in all of this remains the very same lesson a writer must always remember--there is story in everything as long as you are willing to live it.

Sparks Grow

I've been intrigued by where stories come from ever since last week's dreams that have spawned the idea for a novel. I always tell young writers to carry some kind of notebook with them (or notepad feature on some electronic device) because the smallest ideas can grow. This isn't just toss off advice, it's real. I have proof.

While going through an old sketchbook the other day, I found the above drawing which was the first initial spark for:

Everything that seems interesting is worth making a note of...you never know when it might come in handy.

All in a Dream

A few months ago, I had a dream that really felt like a great Middle Grade novel. Of course, I wrote it down in as much detail as possible. This story has been brewing since then. I've been compiling notes and pictures and whatever else seemed to fit. All of these have been stuck in a folder and growing. It's really a story I want to tackle sooner rather than later.

Last night, the idea revisited my dreams at a later point in the story and really did a lot to develop the overall picture. The characters were more complete and vocal and there was a connection there. I knew them. Two dreams...now I'm onto something.

Imagination Invasion

There are certain stories that completely take over part of the imagination and live there. Whenever I look at mushroom patches, I'm instantly thinking of Smurf villages. Every snow pile is a potential Hoth play world. Forests have too many possible stories but lucky their big enough to fit them all in.

The legacy of a story teller doesn't reside in the pages of a book but in the imaginations of those who encounter the story. Being able to contribute to that in some small way is one of the reasons I do what I do.