Do they kill the joy—or make it easier to find?
1. There’s only one rule: start the day with a list
2. One list, two, or ten. Doesn’t matter.
3. Just the process of making the list calms the mind.
4. Better yet, each item listed clears some of the clutter clogging one’s thoughts.
5. There’s the food, always the food…
6. Oat milk
7. Eggs
8. Bread
9. Cheese
10. Cucumbers
11. Tomatoes
12. And why not? Another bar of dark chocolate
13. Writing starts and ends with lists: The Premise, The Outline, The Query, The Synopsis
14. Turns out the dreaded synopsis isn’t so bad if you transfer your story into a long list…
15. Chapter 1, one sentence per scene
16. Chapter 2, one sentence per scene
17. Chapters 3 to the end, one sentence per scene
18. Delete the sentences that don’t matter much (new list: Scenes to be Removed from the Story Itself? Conversely, Scenes to be Added?)
19. Group the sentences into paragraphs
20. Check to make sure the story arc is clear
21. Seek out critiques from people who aren’t familiar with the intricacies of your mind
22. Edit
23. And voila, your synopsis is done!
24. Even walking in the woods can be a list, when you have landmarks to look forward to…
25. The otter at Birch Bridge
26. The dinosaur in the Darkest Part of the Forest
27. The gnomes of Middle Earth
28. The bear on Picnic Log
29. The fairy by the Porpentine Tree
30. The penguins at the South Pole
31. Tom Bombadil on his tree
32. The sasquatch on the Cyclops tree
- The fairy at the Four Sisters trees
34. This list could go on and on
35. In fact, Add new creatures to my trails shall be the first item on a list of Next Summer’s Projects
36. Lists do more than provide satisfaction in crossing things off
37. They keep me organized
38. They give me something to look forward to
39. Something to do, now and someday
40. Joy hides amongst a forest of words
41. My lists make it easier to find.
Happy Tales!
Flights of Fancy 