Story Evolution

A squirrel carrying an acorn. That was the inspiration for my current story. I never thought something so simple and ordinary would transform itself into a fully fledged adventure. In a matter of moments, the characters and setting rushed into my mind and the image possessed me. I was hooked. It goes without saying, I had to tell people.

That was ten years ago. And just now am I realizing I missed the anniversary by a week (Oops! Sorry!) And now? My story has grown and transformed just like anyone over ten years. It evolved from an infant idea into a fully developed plot. In human terms, I created a fourth grader! So the question then becomes, “Is it the same story it was in 2002?”

Your answer is a big resounding, “No.” The MC, conflict and setting are (generally speaking) the same.  How I thought those would factor together or turn out in the end has completely changed. One tiny addition to someone’s personality, or the name-change of a place compounded several times over until it came to its finished product. I added characters I never thought would fit in this narrative while those I had originally made MCs were cut. Big portions of the concept morphed into different versions of themselves, like the phases of the moon.

Without a doubt, this will happen to any and every story as there will be additions and subtractions throughout the journey. These won’t only dart across your writing road at the beginning, but even when you’re deep down the trail. Even now that I am editing I find myself taking whole scenes out and replacing them. If I had to guesstimate the amount of versions I’ve gone through, I think 15-20 would be conservative. And I didn’t come to the title until this past winter. That doesn’t bother me. People don’t reach their full potential for years. Neither do stories. Believe it or not, time is a writer’s best friend.

Tell me how your story has progressed! Did your character change? A piece of the plot or the entire concept?