How Often Have Delicious Dinners with Good Friends Inspired Creativity?

Watchful Wishing Whirling Wanda’s Whale Pleas! A story that was birthed from having dinner with friends, Karen and Rick, in Hawaii. While we savoured a great meal, Karen and I were sharing our fascination for these mighty beasts. We chuckled reflecting on the patience required to spot whales particularly if one is doing so from the shore. One thought led to another and we started brainstorming story ideas.

Initially, I suggested to Karen that a story could be written to mirror The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf. A child would be on the shore, teasing people by fibbing to everyone that he/she just saw a whale but when people turned to look there wasn’t one in sight. This would repeat until the child has a magnificent whale sighting, possibly of a pod, but no one turns as they don’t believe the child. I suggested that we might want to try co-writing the story and even ask her daughter to do the illustrations. We parted ways with hopes that this lovely meal would seed a joint project.

A few months later with more time on my hands than Karen, she was still working as a university professor, I started writing. I sent her the beginnings of a story; however, Karen’s schedule didn’t allow her the freedom of creative writing time. Consequently, with her approval, I continued the journey alone. In a flash, with more brainstorming, the story began taking on its own life and morphing in a different direction.

I wanted the story to feature grandparents coming to the rescue. I also wanted to embrace a child’s passionate wish to see a whale. The story was not going to be one of deception but of perseverance, patience, and hope. I wanted to create tension between a child’s optimism and disappointment. Moreover, thinking of Karen’s new role as a grandmother, I wanted to celebrate how grandparents so often are able to provide experiences that deliver answers to their grandchildren.

There were several other dimensions that I wanted to include in this story, namely, rhyming couplets, alliteration, and the repetition of a rhyme or song. I envisioned a young girl dancing and singing on the shore pleading with the whales to show themselves. Given that we live on Vancouver Island, a place that is a whale-watching haven, I wanted the story to be set on our island, showcasing our beautiful beaches which are often marked with driftwood forts. Since this child was in wishing, whirling (through dance), watching for whales, I thought this story would feature names that began with W and the title would be alliterative.

The rhyme that Wanda repeats while dancing on the beach is an earnest plea. It is what children are known for when they desperately want something to happen. As it turned out while creating the title, I realized that pleas is a homonym for please, and wasn’t that what Wanda was doing asking for the whales to please show themselves. A cute ironic twist that presented itself without premeditation.

I was blessed that Keith Cains (see the previous blog for how we met) agreed to collaborate by providing the illustrations. Keith being an islander was able to capture the magnificence of our beaches. Also, Keith had already done a series of whale watercolours which he was able to showcase in this story. Again, synchronicity shone over our publishing project.

Yes, stories are often birthed over a delicious meal sharing experiences and reflections with our dearest friends. Instead of walking away from the creative banter, why not use it to take the next step and write your own story. You never know where it will take you!