A Stash of Drafts

This is How I Keep my Story Ideas Evergreen

This story was originally a draft entitled “How To” keep ideas evergreen. However, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. There are so many how-to stories to scratch every itch. For example, how to increase the number of followers, how to go viral, how to be curated, how to earn mega dollars in months, etc.

This is not that. I am simply sharing what works for me as it pertains to moving an idea to a draft and then to a published story.

I chose Medium.com after watching a few videos by top writer Zulie Rane. Per her advisement, I reviewed the various publications. After a quick review, I decided to reach out to the “KTHT” publication — edited by Diana C. The “KTHT” publication was the best fit for what I wanted to write. I cannot articulate my excitement when my first story was accepted and published within a week of joining Medium.com!

This was April 2021. To date, I have published 63 stories. Many of the 63 stories are a result of the prompts provided by Diana C. in KTHT. I’ve also been accepted by 10 publications!

Fanae-5 has been on Medium.com for less than 1 year and thinks she can contribute valuable content to 10 publications?

Yes, I do, because of the way I move my ideas — to draft — to stories.

Early in the Journey Within approximately 3 months I found my rhythm and then tried to “stretch” a bit. My first rejected story was about Historic African American Jockeys in the Kentucky Derby. The story was based on a YouTube video I had posted as part of the Fanae-5 social media platform. I was not upset about the rejection as I knew it was a stretch!

Stretch beyond the comfort zone I began to reach out to additional publications cognizant that each publication has its own guidelines. I knew that by reaching out for acceptance to additional publications, my writing would inevitably be stretched and challenged.

My process As ideas for a story come to mind, I immediately start a draft. Sometimes, I only get as far as a title. I purposely walk away from it and let it “simmer”. I may create 2–3 drafts per day. When I feel that familiar “ok it’s time to write” tug in my spirit I review the drafts.

When it’s time to write I am invited to a special place where I listen to the whispered guidance of the Universe. As a draft “steps forward” I begin to write. Sometimes, the writing goes in a completely different direction from the draft. As we all do, I make a concerted effort to thoroughly review my writing and edit as needed. As I move through this process, the best publication for the story also “steps forward”.

This is my process. It may not make sense to some but for now, it works for me. I hope you were able to glean something helpful from this story.

Happy 2022 with all the best wishes from me to you!