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“She said you write stories.” “Yes…I do,” I answer cautiously. Because I don’t know this woman at all. Cautiously. Because I’m sitting in the middle of my nieces’ 3rd birthday party wearing velveteen mouse ears while a live-action version of Encanto plays in the background. And I happen to write 16+ Boy + Boy Romance. Definitely not for pre-K. But I shouldn’t have worried, Reader. Because just as she plops herself down next to me I overhear my husband and my SIL’s civil rights lawyer friend talking geopolitics in the middle of this mouse-themed chaos. “Oh, awesome. Because I have this idea but…like what do I do with it?” “Weird coincidence. I just made a mini-class for basically that.” So right there while my nieces unwrapped presents (and I tried to avoid getting tagged with lemon cupcakes or trip over a plastic wagon full of ice cubes) I simplified my 5-Day Story Creation course for her. And we turned her idea into the start of a story she could get to creating once she got back home. This also became the Reel I posted on Monday. So how can you take any story idea you get while……Humming that latest catchy song a little too loudly in the shower… …Standing in line at Target… …Sitting through the 10+ trailers at the movies… …and expand it into the foundation you need to start creating your story? By asking yourself these 3 simple questions:
You don’t need to be thinking about everything, everywhere all at once. Just focus on the one most important thing that NEEDS to happen in your story. Everything else is extra. Next time you get an idea ask these 3 super easy questions and they’ll take your idea from What now? To I got this! Want to see this in action?Wattpad Romance is running a collab contest until March 31st. And I’m using my very own 5-Day mini-course to create my entry. Here’s the prompt I’ve selected from those available:The first door reveals a path littered with flower petals, making you mesmerized by the blooming cherry blossom trees. Fog appears and you begin to wonder if you should turn around or head home. The next thing you hear is a melodic voice, trying to persuade you to enter the sacred shrine that lies behind the smoke.
When you step forward, you find yourself face-to-face with a fox spirit. Will you allow yourself to be enchanted by their charms?
Now I’ve got to write 1,500 - 5,000 words by March 31st. And here are my answers to those 3 questions:1) Who is your Legendary Character? Takehiko, a student on a class trip. 2) Where is this story set? A Shinto shrine for Inari. 3) What needs to happen? Takehiko needs to encounter Kazumi a wish-granting kitsune (fox spirit) who resides at the shrine. Takehiko surprises Kazumi by requesting a date with him as his wish. Now all I have to do, Reader, is flesh out the story and turn in my entry by the deadline. Well, I hope these 3 questions help you see just how easy it is to get started turning any idea into the foundation for a story, Reader. And I hope you’ll join me in this writing contest on Wattpad. Your cohort in storytelling, Kat Vancil 🐱 PS 👉 Which of the 3 Qs makes you 🛑 and 💭 the most, Reader? Hit reply vote WHO, WHERE, or WHAT. CREATE A BRAND NEW STORY IN JUST 5 DAYS! Learn the basics of crafting a brand-new story in just 5 days! In this FREE easy-to-follow email-based mini-course, I’ve outlined what you need to know to build your perfect story foundation every time. EMBARK ON YOUR STORYTELLING QUEST TODAY!
 
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