Story Seeds

 The seeds above will be sown, fed with rains from above and grow to a lovely flower. It doesn't happen overnight. To plant a seed, then nurture it to fruition takes time, patience, and some faith.

Our writing is much the same. Have you ever been out for a stroll when a glimmer of an idea for a new story pops into your mind? Maybe something you noticed while walking triggered it. Or perhaps the mere state of being alone with your thoughts allowed the thought to come. That is the seed. Now, it's up to you to do something with it.

Most seeds left untouched will eventually dry up and blow away. No one will ever see the flowers they might have become. The story seed will do the same unless you take some action. How? What? When? After all, this seed came while you were outside, far from your computer or notepad.

We can retain the thought until we return home, especially if we keep thinking about that tiny seed of an idea. How can we expand on it? Play the What if...? game with that bit of an idea. At home, make a few notes. If you're really inspired, go ahead and start on the first draft. It's not necessary to do it immediately. 

When I have that tiny seed of an idea, I often let it swirl in my mind for several days, or even weeks. The more time I give it, the more sprouts it shoots out. When I'm ready to plant, I start that first draft.

The feeding and watering of the seed you've planted take place with every revision, every edit that you do.  Call your story finished and you can consider it in full bloom. 

I used the example of receiving the seed of a story while out on a walk but it can happen anywhere, often when you least expect it. That's what is so exciting to me. Out of nowhere comes an idea for a new writing project. It could hit you while you're filling the dishwasher or walking down the aisle of your grocery store. You could be having lunch with friends when a casual remark one of them makes becomes the seed for your next story. 

Story seeds are everywhere. It's up to you to find them and use them and bless each and every one.