How An Idea Became A Story

Story of my HeArt Pure Fiction writing challenge.

I didn’t have to think hard about what story from the past year was my favorite. It’s a story I am rather proud of because it’s a story that made me branch out of my comfort zone and write in a genre I’ve never written in before.

I can still remember staring at the list of prompts, all of them so far out of my comfort zone it made my stomach churn with uncertainty. Then one stuck out, sparking an idea in my mind. I stopped scrolling to let the words I read sink in.

My heart pounded in my chest as a smile played across my lips. I loved the prompt. It was perfect. The only problem was the prompt required a robot or AI being in the story. I stared at the blank word document in front of me, sweaty hands poised over my keyboard. Could I do this? I was a romance and Fantasy writer I had never written anything even remotely close to science fiction.

I looked again at the prompt that just moments ago seemed so perfect. It glared at me now from the sticky note I had hastily scribbled it on, taunting me and playing off my lack of self-confidence.

My eyes left the note and glanced at the words scrolled on the paper taped fast to the top of my laptop. “Don’t think, just write.” It’s something my mother used to tell me when I would doubt myself. Even though she is no longer here, I can still hear her voice whispering those words of encouragement every time I think I’m not good enough to write a story.

I closed my eyes, allowing the story to play out in my mind. Then I placed my fingers on the keypad and started typing. The words flowed so easily, the story coming to life before my very eyes.

When I typed that last word, I leaned back in my chair, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I had done it. I had written a science fiction story. No words could express the satisfaction I felt at that moment. And that’s how the story, Am I Human, came into existence.

Thank you, KL Simmons and JA Vassili, for creating this challenge!