There is something about the fall that inspires me. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m not busy trying to keep cool from the hot sun, or I don’t have to mow the lawn as often, but the fall is a time to cozy up and write. Of course, I write all year long, but the darker evenings are a segue to a more free imagination.
I love the colors of fall, rich and earthy. The crunch of leaves and stillness of a clear night sky, is also a great favorite. The oven can be turned on, roasts consumed and scarves worn. It all adds up to exciting times for me.
This year our family vacation took us to northern Michigan. The trees were starting to turn and the weather was very agreeable. Seeing the woods on Mackinac Island is always magical for me.
My short story, It Happened in the Woods, will be finished in a couple weeks (that’s the goal). It takes place on Mackinac Island, so this particular vacation brought it all full circle. It was fun to see the businesses on the main street and pathways through the woods that inspired the story. It was also fun to stand in the bookshops and thumb through various accounts of the history of the island. Chit-chatting with a few islanders confirmed the notions in my head and gave me hope that the characters in my story were very plausible.
Any story, short or long, has hours upon hours of hard work in it. The conception, research, first draft, second through eight draft (or so it seems) and formatting all come to a climax of birthing a work into being that can be shared with others. It’s fun and scary at the same time. I always am encouraged when others enjoy the stories, but I’m happy if I like it. After all, I write what I want to read.
