Do You Have a Storyline...Are You Sure?

So, you think that you have that perfect topic for your short story or novel…you think that you have a good idea of what your storyline will be. You’ve written down some character names…You’ve chosen your location, your setting, and such…You’ve even started writing the first chapter…As you near the middle of the seventh page, you pause and look at the rest of the blank page…Wait a minute, what happened there?

You page backwards and re-read what you just scribbled…this wasn’t the character you wrote down…and, wait, where is this taking place again…that is not the same either…So, whose story is this anyway?

Yes, even within the first seven pages, your story can take on a life of its own. While you should be prepared to correct the path your story takes if it goes too far away from your thoughts, be open to allowing it to grow itself. Stories are part of us. Just like us, they can be complicated and change their direction when needed. They need guidance. However, they do not like to be told what to do, where to stop, and how to grow. You and your story will learn together…if you allow it.

What does your story tell you? Are you sticking to your storyline? Or, are you letting it grow as you listen to the story your inner writer is sharing with you?