I am happy. I understand now the central theme of the book I'm writing, that idea wrapped around the mere plot that represents its identity and reason. As I've griped here before, I was struggling over tone, but still the real theme hadn't asserted itself.
In On Writing, Stephen King wrote (and I paraphrase from memory) that it's in the later revisions he can identify the themes he's woven throughout and can sort and amplify them. I've finally been thinking about this project long enough to have learned what fascinates me most
about it.
Sure, this means redirecting the plot from what I thought it was (again), and showing events from a different camera angle, but it all feels easy this time. And that's how I always know when I've got it right. The choreography starts flowing like I've been spending my nights sleepwalking at Arthur Murray. I can't ever predict the timing, but things just organize themselves effortlessly and it's joyful to glide along.
The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say. ~Mark Twain
As of yesterday, my visiting houseful of family has gone. Lots of energy expended and not much sleep, but I'll remember it as more wonderful than tiring. And today, I'm finding all this springy goodness inspiring and supportive of my efforts, not distracting like it felt just a couple of weeks ago. Funny how that works. Though many of my neighbors have flowers and trees that I wish my covetous eyes could transplant, I've stuck to inflicting upon you specimens from our own territories. I know many of you also have works-in-progress right now. Any new breakthroughs of glorious blooms or plumage?
1)Blossoms of some weepy-cherry thing.
2) Pansy survivors of last week's torrents. More pals coming.
3) Flowering basil in the kitchen. Eggling on the sill.
4) Eggling ceramic planter with new-sprouting mint.
5) Forsythia from the sideyard.
6) The first, bravest daffodils. Mob in transit.
7) Hydrangea. Will eventually go into our front garden with the other bushes. I love these kind of blues.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Spring Finally Sprang, and I'm Sprung
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11 comments:
Ooooh, pretty!
I have, sadly, no breakthroughs. But I'm working on it....
Gorgeous house and yard! There's nothing quite like the beauty of nature to get the creative juices flowing. I need to plant some things here--inside and outside. Thanks for the inspiration!
It takes me so long to make my writing readable, sometimes months and months of sitting, just metabolizing or something.
Which means I should post this comment next January. (sigh)
The Mark Twain quote is brilliant. I'm going to follow his advice. As for your yard and windowsills...the flowers are beautiful and I'm jealous, we're still wintry here. What is an eggling? A little pot like a peat pot you can plant directly in the ground? Why did I spend my money on peat pots this spring!
I'm having a slightly better time with my story line right now- which I am, of course, happy about.
But I'm actually too fascinated by the eggling to think about my WIP right now. I want one!
Well, since ya'll demand to know
: P
Egglings are a little product made in Germany that I ordered in a set of 3 from red envelope. I gave the wild strawberry and pansy to my nieces for Easter and kept the mint. They're ceramic of some kind and loaded with peat and seeds. You crack the top with a spoon, drench the insides, and put them somewhere bright. They did send extra seeds, too, which I ended up using since the first few weeks nothing happened. They can be sprouted indoors and then later planted in the yard or another container after breaking up the egg's 'shell' and putting it in the soil with the plants as fertilizer. They'll happily grow in their shells for months though.
Searching, I see they have lots more types and are available several places online.
http://www.eggling.com/
Leigh- I know what you mean. Me, too. That's why I'm so happy another long, confusing, dry spell-- which I call 'percolating' rather than metabolizing-- is ending. But I can never tell when that will occur. My process mocks the calendar.
Lois- Peat pots rock, but are not quite as sweet-looking on the windowsills.
Wordvixen- Congrats to you on your own sproinging WIP!
Those egglings are too cool! And everything looks so green and pretty. The Bag Lady is jealous - nothing much is sprouting here yet. Soon, though. Especially if we hit our forecast high tomorrow of 20C (around 72F). Slightly early in the year for temps. like that here, but no complaints!!
Great post Clare!
Yes and yes again to the Twain quote. That's exactly how it is.
Sometimes I've had to do a great deal of writing before I started writing.
Beautiful pictures. And an eggling--who knew?
Stephen King's On Writing is one of my favorite writing books. One of the best sections, I think, is when he talks about killing your little darlings.
Bag Lady- If you hit 72 today, those little germinators won't be able to help themselves.
Amen, Leah!
Britta- I think the Kill Your Darlings quote was originally Faulkner, but proved so pithy and true, it's become writing canon and repeated by everyone from our dear Twain on. I don't exactly kill them. I cut and paste them into another doc and promise myself I'll find a place to use them later. Might not happen, but it feels less like home surgery.
The On Writing book is a personal favorite of mine, too. In fact, when I was stuck in a similar (but longer) wheel rut in the first manuscript I ever finished, On Writing had just come out and it helped unstick me. I go back to it, because it's solidly useful and very supportive, too, without being saccharine. LOVE it!
The egglings are so sweet! And the other blooms are lovely.
Since I have chickens, I have plenty of egg shells---and in various colors: shades of brown, blue and green. I am going to try to start some seeds in them, then when the time is right, plant them directly into the garden. Ready made compost and calcium boost!
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