Img_20201225_203640_588mp4

Do you remember when that video was taken? I can help you weave those specific details into a more personal tale.

: Every good story needs a hurdle, whether it’s a character fighting the odds or a "coming of age" moment.

: Move from the Beginning to a Turning Point, and finally to a Resolution. IMG_20201225_203640_588mp4

: Use a compelling visual from that night to ground your opening.

At , just as the file name suggests, the camera didn't catch a sleigh. Instead, it captured a tiny, frantic movement near the base of the Christmas tree. A stray kitten, lured in by the smell of leftover ham and the warmth of the radiator, had squeezed through a loose vent in the floor. Do you remember when that video was taken

The timestamp on your file suggests a story from . While the world was quiet and socially distanced, a different kind of magic was unfolding in a small, snow-covered suburban home. The Christmas stowaway

Leo’s video showed the kitten, which he later named "Noodle," engaging in a fierce battle with a low-hanging tinsel strand. The "story" wasn't about a mythical visitor from the North Pole; it was about a shivering stray finding its first home. When Leo found Noodle the next morning, curled up in his dad's oversized slipper, it became the best "gift" 2020 had to offer. Want to write your own? : Move from the Beginning to a Turning

Leo, a seven-year-old with a penchant for detective novels, wasn't looking for sugar plums. He was looking for proof. He had set up his tablet—the very one that recorded your video—near the fireplace to catch the "big guy" in the act.