What is the story that leads up to love?  It could be anything, even something we secretly wish might happen to us…

What if an illustrator elf notices a handsome writer elf, someone who is visiting the workshop from a distant forest, and only for a few days.  These two elves may not spend much time in each other’s company but they do pass each other and when they do, their eyes always meet.

Anything that brings two characters into contact with one another can result in a love story!  Furthermore, the two characters who fall in love can be anyone.

Additionally, we need not be afraid of letting the details get complicated!  He might be shy and unsure of himself, and convinced no one will ever choose him.  And, she might have secretly admired his older second cousin but, upon meeting this elf, she knows for sure that this is true love!  All sorts of details make a good love story.

New idea:  When we begin a story, we can consider where love might conceivably spring up.  Love could be one part of a larger story, or the whole story might be a love story, told with many shifts from hot to cold, from “She loves me!” to “She loves me not!”

(Two notes about the illustration may be of interest.  Have a look at the small differences between the painted illustration above and the sketch below.  A new set of characters was added at the last minute.  Also, notice how dabs of bright red spot color pop off the page!)