Writing is gardening, the result a feast. The metaphor is
obvious: plant seeds, water, fertilize, weed, harvest, and enjoy the result in
the form of a fabulous meal. Why does this metaphor feel so right? Every stage
of growing food to nourish our bodies has a counterpart in growing stories to
feed our minds.
Planting
A plot is like the garden map; if we throw seeds randomly the result is a confusing mess. Subplots are like carrots; if we have too many of them, it’s as if we’ve planted seeds too closely. The row is so tightly packed that no carrot can grow to its potential. Plots need room to breathe.
A plot is like the garden map; if we throw seeds randomly the result is a confusing mess. Subplots are like carrots; if we have too many of them, it’s as if we’ve planted seeds too closely. The row is so tightly packed that no carrot can grow to its potential. Plots need room to breathe.
We find the perfect spot to plant our strawberries, radishes
and scallions. We space the seeds just so. But darn it if the neighbor didn’t
plant a fast growing Ausstree Willow that sucks the water right out of our bed
and throws shade on our nascent plants all but ten minutes of each day.
Likewise, the shade of negativity can stunt the growth of stories, even those
begun with the best seed. There will always be interruptions and backslides but
we needn’t pout. Maybe the neighbor would be willing to trim his tree or help
us dig out a new bed on the other side of the yard. It serves us well, in
gardening and in writing, to seek and accept support from others. If we
surround ourselves with sunshine, the veggies and fruit will thrive.
Weeding
You’ve got to edit. And edit. And edit. Enough said.
You’ve got to edit. And edit. And edit. Enough said.
Harvesting
How should we look at our bruised fruit? With admiration! Do you want taste or shiny wax? Good characters are like bruised fruit. The imperfect ones often taste sweeter and are full of authentic flavor.
How should we look at our bruised fruit? With admiration! Do you want taste or shiny wax? Good characters are like bruised fruit. The imperfect ones often taste sweeter and are full of authentic flavor.
Unlike farmers competing with their 1,000+ pound pumpkins,
we writers compliment and even combine our crops; my zucchini, her parsley and
garlic, his onions and tomatoes and your eggplant mix to make an unbeatable
ratatouille. That’s what critique groups and involvement in the greater writing
community are all about. It’s in our best interest to cooperate rather than
compete.
Writing and gardening are emotional roller coasters. There
are exquisite highs (a bumper crop of jalapenos) and agonizing lows (that damn
rabbit ate the strawberries). Expect them. Celebrate them both as forward
movement. Even a rejection gets you one step closer to publication, as long as
you listen to the reason you were rejected.
Next time we can talk about my favorite subject (as a foodie
and food writer): cooking up our crops.
Publication and sharing our bounty is the purpose of
planting our garden. Go grow some cucumbers and a ton of fans!
I wish you good gardening!
(Originally posted at the Sisters of the Quill blog on May 31, 2011)
About
the Writer: Karen is an editor,
ghostwriter, pitch coach, speaker and award-winning author of novels,
cookbooks, and screenplays. She’s written over a dozen solo and collaborative
scripts (with Janet Fogg, Christian Lyons and director Erich Toll); each has
garnered international, national and regional recognition: Moondance Film
Festival, BlueCat, All She Wrote, Lighthouse Writers, Boulder Asian Film
Festival, SouthWest Writers Contest, and PPW Contest. Find out more at
www.karenalbrightlin.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.