The writing process demonstrated by black swallowtails

Step 1

You have an idea. It’s not pretty yet, but it has potential.

Step 2

Your story is starting to look pretty cool, but it’s not quite what you imagined when you started.

Step 3

Lots of hard work happens here. Or a miracle. Take your pick.

Step 4

Your story is finished!

And then it mates with another story, lays eggs on your fennel, and the process starts over again. Or something like that.

All photos from Wikipedia.