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September 12, 2025 2 mins

 Hello to you listening in Ellsworth, Maine!

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.

Long ago in China there were cities surrounded with towering walls and magnificent gates. The gates let people in and out of the city but more importantly the gate was the place where the soul of the city resided. How do you build such a gate?

People would collect the bleached bones of warriors from the old battlefields and carry them back to the city where they were sealed inside the newly constructed gate. The hope was that the long dead warriors would protect the city in exchange for being remembered. When the gate was finished it was sprinkled with the blood of a specially chosen animal because it was believed that adding blood to the dead bones would bring the souls of the warriors back to life. [Inspired by Sputnik Sweetheart, by Haruki Murakami  published 2001 - pages 15 to 16]

Writing your story is much like this. To begin gather together the bones of the story for shape and structure. But a story is organic; it needs a soul to live and breathe. Invoke the "sorcery of stories" to link the world of your words with the world of your imagination and you’ll create the soul of your story.

Story Prompt: Where might the soul of your story reside? What will bring it to life? Write that story! And tell it out loud! 

Practical Tip: The magic of stories is also in the sharing. If you wish share your story with someone or something.  All that matters is you have a story.

You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.  If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.

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