Once Upon a Time

 ( image taken from dstracywrites.blogspot.com)

There are so many story's that i have read from my childhood and the one thing that i looked forward to any story was the starting, especially the one which started with  - " Once upon a time,...." .

These four words  open up a multitude of thoughts and ideas, not only for the reader, but also for the author.. It makes one eager to continue reading and finding the essence of the story. It gives impetus to the writer to weave stories in different genres to suit his or her mood.

Personally these four words were the reason behind why i started writing. Given these words i realised that i could dish out different beginnings with the same four words.

For example: " Once upon a time in the land of Lemuria lived an alien called Zorba.", so my story now becomes science fiction.

" Once upon a time in Africa, long before civilisation started, roamed human kind who resembled apes.", might be the first line of a history text book.

" Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Magadha, two warrior princes were born on the same day at the same time.", this would mean that my story is a historical one, a period romance maybe.

"Once upon a time in a faraway land filled with goblins and fairies, lived a princess, " would  be an apt  opening for a fairy tale.

The power these four words hold is awesome and has not diminished all these years. I read an article the other day which stated that no body knows how or when these four words originated. Chaucer's Cantebury tales were some of the earliest examples. Many folklores and fables also usually begin with these words which instantly piqued the interest of the reader or the listener.

And the perfect match for these starting four words are the ending 6 words, " and they lived happily ever after."

So go ahead take a pen and paper and write a story which begins with , Once upon a time..... and see the words and ideas flow onto the paper.

I plan to start my story for the Harper Collins short story contest, with the epic four words, " Once upon a time......"

But in the meanwhile have a look at my synopsis at http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/254/ and if you like my story line, don't hesitate to hit the promote button.:)

Adios have a good day and keep penning your thoughts.