Writing backwards

Artwork before the story

This story was created in reverse. The illustration was completed, then the story was written using the artwork as inspiration. If you haven't created a story for a piece of art, I highly recommend it! It is a great exercise!

https://youtu.be/QWWvPpB-tO4

Original artwork and story by Amanda Blaylock.

Lightning Bug Cascade

We walked and walked, just Mae and me

where I was scared to go.

And as we neared the secret place,

the sun was getting low.

She knew I didn’t like the dark

but she had promised me,

if I would go and brave the night,

I’d like what I would see!

So out we went and down the path

that ran beside the trees.

The black that settled heavy there,

made me want to freeze.

Mae could sense my growing fear.

So she reached out her hand.

I grabbed it quick and on we went

across the twilight land.

Then finally we came to rest

inside the inky dark.

When suddenly, across the field,

I saw a tiny spark!

“Look!” I gasped! But Mae just smiled

for she already knew,

and so we turned to face the light,

to watch it as it grew.

A thousand twinkling flashes

spilled out into the night

and filled the darkest corners

with softly glowing light.

It felt like secret magic

and the longer that we stayed,

the brighter it became inside

the lightning bug cascade.

That night would be a favorite

among my memories.

The night that I forgot my fears

and left them in the trees.