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a thousand stories



"Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas everyday. 
The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. 
Most people don't see any."
--Orson Scott Card


This quote has been swimming in my head recently....
Driving to work this morning, 
the stories were here and there 
and everywhere I looked.  
I grabbed my notebook and 
scribbled.  
Scribbled words. 
Scribbled ideas.  
Scribbled moments.  
Scribbled stories.
There are stories all around us
waiting to be told.  
Are you willing to slow down and grab hold?  
Find the words
to share a small moment.
Go on. Start scribbling a thousand stories.

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  1. TracyApril 11, 2012 at 4:23 PM

    I love the line Are you willing to slow down and grab hold? It really sums up what we do as writers--take the time to notice and record. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CathyApril 11, 2012 at 8:13 PM

    Michelle,
    I loved this poem. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. There are stories everywhere. If we look we will not only find the stories of people, but math stories, science stories, stories of the world. During the Slice of Life Challenge I was amazed at all the stories. I could only wonder how many stories are lost each day because no one took the time to capture them. There are so many stories, "waiting to be told." Thanks for the reminder.
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deb DayApril 11, 2012 at 8:21 PM

    ...slow down and grab hold...Start scribbling a thousand stories...

    Great lines, Michelle. And one we all need to listen to. I need to keep my notebook with me ALL the time

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda BApril 11, 2012 at 11:54 PM

    Well said, Michelle. I like that idea that they are everywhere. There are so many things going on at school just today that I could tell those stories & more. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. JudyApril 12, 2012 at 5:11 AM

    You have captured what last month's challenge did for me. I am so much more aware of my surroundings, of people, of daily happenings. Now instead of just being aware, I need to write them down as reminders to share my stories. Thanks for your poetic reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  6. jyk730April 12, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    I've started writing in my writer's notebook again this week. I like what you wrote.The quote is very powerful. I'm reminded of the importance of writing down the stories that I see...even after the slice of life challenge! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Christy Rush-LevineApril 13, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    I love this quote--thanks for sharing it with us! I can't wait to read some of the stories you gather.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Terje April 14, 2012 at 3:19 AM

    Dear Michelle,
    The slowing down is the hardest thing to do. I have been so busy lately that I haven't even had time to read what my blogger friends have written. I am sorry. I can see that you have slowed down and let the stories to unfold in poetry. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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