"JUST LIKE GRANDMA USED TO MAKE"

                         

                                                      The Perfect Story Ingredients

            Who doesn’t like Sunday dinners at Grandma’s house? Her special fried chicken seasoned to perfection and mashed potatoes, banana pudding made from scratch, cakes and pies. The wonderful holiday meals that kept you going back for seconds and even thirds.

I often wondered how my mother could go into the kitchen with seemingly nothing in the cupboard or the fridge and like magic, create one of the best meals you’ve ever tasted. 

            Well, it was because she always had the perfect ingredients to create one of a kind dishes and it takes the same type of formula in creating flawless stories. The same principles apply when we prepare our creative minds in story development.  Much like a chef we need every element necessary to ensure our story will be blended properly and palatable when served.

            Not only this, but it also needs time, an essential part to each story.  Just like a pot of savory stew that tastes wonderful simply because it could simmer at the right temperature until ready to serve.

We all know haste makes waste, so why would you rush instead of allowing your thoughts to marinate and simmer awhile too before putting pen to paper or type them out on a keyboard.

            An underdeveloped story is the equivalent of an ill-prepared meal.  It lacks taste and the right amount of spices to even qualify as appetizing. One way to eliminate this blunder from happening is to follow one of Grandma’s simple recipes. Would you bake a cake with meal instead of flour or use salt when sugar is necessary? No, you would make a list of everything needed and go from there.

            Story development is much like your favorite recipe, at least those of us who write.  We keep our notes nearby to be made available when needed. Often, we add different elements, things that enhance the story instead of decreasing its punch.  I, just like most folks like variety and often experiment with different things to make my story creations more munificent.

            Keep in mind, I know when to hold back on one thing and add another to maximize the flavor. Doing too much is dangerous, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.  It’s okay to take risks, though; some of the best discoveries were made because someone wasn’t afraid to delve a little deeper or push through further.

            Knowing when to do this is key. If you are a seasoned professional, meaning you’ve been doing whatever it is you do for longer than a minute. Then you are already aware of what steps to take without having to guess at it.  

            Don’t fret about it though.  Grandma never did, in fact she kept a level head while planning some of the most glorious creations.  If you stick to the formula and use the perfect ingredients, you can’t go wrong and watch the compliments roll in.