Our deadline for open submission story ideas is only two weeks away. We’ve received lots of great stories from some very talented writers, and I have to admit, we have a few tough decisions ahead of us. Yet with all the great ideas poring in, I was a bit surprised this morning when I realized something I hadn’t noticed before. So far, only one story has made any mention to the front of the postcard.

The bulk of the ideas and pitches I’ve seen so far deal with a select few phrases and words on the back of the card. Now, I’m not suggesting that there’s anything wrong with that; from those few word written on the card, an unlimited number of stories could be tossed around. But throw in the “Birthday Greetings” from the front of the card and you have even more doors open up.

What’s perhaps more interesting is that even the one story pertaining to the card’s front doesn’t take the entire card into account. Instead, the writer chose to make minimal reference to the handwritten words and sent his focus elsewhere. It’s creative genius at work I tell ya, and that absolutely fascinates me. It’s what makes this project so special. The writers focus on the one or two elements of the postcard that speaks to them and then they let their imagination take flight. When you picture a writer spinning an entire world out of one element and taking it to unexpected heights, well, that’s sheer brilliance.

So regardless of whether you focus on the purple flower, the grammatical problems, or the stain on the stamp, be sure to tell your story. Sure, we might have plenty of great ideas already, but there’s room for more. There’s no reason not to flex your creative muscles and take part in this fantastic anthology. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did.