Seed catalogs are coming in fast. They’re fat and colorful and full of tempting things, and they make me realize I need to start planning my garden tout de suite. I don’t need much, as I save seeds, but there are always surprises when I look at my seed stores and the garden plan.
Having spare time has opened again the possibility of writing more extensively. Back in 2011, I decided the blog would be my creative outlet and I stopped writing poetry and fiction. Mostly, I did this because my paid work and volunteer activities around food access crowded out the creative spark. Also, if you write fiction and want to publish it, the shopping around process takes a certain kind of energy and mindset I didn’t have at the time.
I’d been feeling I might have the creative mental space back, so I looked at my work. There are 15 poems, one of them published; five short stories, two published; two short stories in process; one novel, complete, but likely in need of rewriting; and one novel in its second draft.
I wasn’t able to capture the color well, but saw them more than once.
I have always thought one of the short stories could be a screenplay but have never learned what is entailed in that process. The completed novel would likely be more marketable if I killed off one of the characters and changed the arc of the story. And the novel started and in the second draft reveals a problem I have with focus.
Most of my fictional characters come to me in a particular situation or with a particular attitude. I write things that illuminate them, not always in the order of the story and not always pertinent to the story. As a result, I wind up with excess, off-point scenes and a LOT of words in novels. Two writer friends, recognizing this problem, gave me books that addressed it years back. One is called Structuring Your Novel and the other is called The Moral Premise. The latter is about screenwriting, but just as applicable to story arc in a novel. I’ve decided to read them both, do the exercises and proceed, if possible, with the newer novel. With all the distance from the creative writing, I was able to see and accept what I was doing wrong when I dipped again into Structuring Your Novel.
As I write today, it’s snowing again and I’m enjoying it. Overnight it will turn into wintry mix, ice, and then rain. Tomorrow is supposed to be well above freezing, so I hope people stay in tonight and the stuff melts fast. Earlier, I took some video of it, but it’s relatively silent.
I’ll stay in and have a few shortbread and some hot tea…
arlingwords 
I love snow, but ice is something else. Staying in is a wise choice.
I’ve never ordered a seed catalogue, and to be honest I don’t remember my grandparents ever having them around, despite being relatively large-scale gardeners. I remember the old seed packets, though: Burpee for veggies, and Coles for flowers. We weren’t very far from Pella, which is a Dutch town in Iowa famed for their flowers, especially — and of course — for their tulips. For us, Coles was as much a household name as Target or Walmart are today.
I’m not inclined toward fiction, but I envy you new writing time. Part of my issue is focus, of course. Once I became interested in nature and photography and started a second blog: well. No one can serve two masters, and all that. I’ve found that trying to serve three is even trickier: full time work, full time writing, and full time messing around with a camera don’t leave much time for laundry! But it’s a new year, and time for refocusing. I think starting with tea and shortbreads is perfect!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I never have ordered a seed catalog. They just give my name to each other because I’ve ordered–mostly from Burpee, Johnny’s, and Territorial as well as Southern Seeds, which hasn’t arrived yet. I like the nonfiction/essay writing, too, but the fiction is fun, if just as much work. As for cameras, I’ve been meaning to get mine out again and start to mess about. So many things to explore!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I see you get the Territorial Seeds catalog. They are out my way. There is one from called Southern Exposure Seed Exchange out of Mineral, Virginia, you might like to go look through. They have many good varieties, and many heirlooms.
Good luck with the writing! Wishing you the best as you go forward with that.
LikeLike
Thanks Lavinia. Southern Exposure hasn’t arrived yet, but I often go onto their website. They have the best selection for my growing zone. Territorial Seed has a great garden planner, though and it helps me not overplant! Stay warm and dry, Lavinia!
LikeLike
Sounds like you are ready to jump in with both feet! Winter is a good time to do such indoor work. Is there a time of day/week that you’ve devoted to your writing practice? I’m not so disciplined, but I’ve read that writers often have a set time devoted to it. What is your sewing project?
LikeLike
I think an established time would be good, probably morning, but so far, I’ve been all over the place, especially at night. I’ve done a variety of sewing projects–table runners and placemats, a quilted throw, some napkins…now I’m thinking of making a nice tote bag with pockets and a lining. So many projects…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love seed catalogues though I have never ordered from them. They inspire your gardening desires. I think they give the soul hope that spring is still coming. I keep thinking that I have lots of time now to write but end up sitting here reading blogs instead. Since there is nothing else to do right now…I should just get started. Once I get all my stuff here, I’ll have lots to do and enough light to do it. You are like the rest of us with so many irons in the fire. Focus is a tough task master. Sigh.
LikeLike
So true. I’d rather have lots of interests and a dose of curiosity, though, like you. It makes for more enjoyment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to your literary garden!
LikeLike
Thanks, Bruce. We’ll see how it goes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck with all your projects. Stephen King has written that he always starts his novels with “what if.” From there come the characters and everything else. Good advice, I think.
LikeLike
Interesting. I think I’ll focus on structuring the dramatic arc. How do you get your stories? Idea comes? Character? Situation? I’ve heard them all from different people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Usually ideas. For my Great Library Series, it was “What if there were a Book of Everything?” And everything rippled from there. For a short story I recently wrote, it was “What if a mother and daughter were homeless in Maine in December? And what if there were an angel dog.” Again, the story ripple forward. Yes, different ways for different people.
LikeLike
Lots of decisions to make, Lisa – garden, books and novels!
My go to on a winter day is Ginger thins with my cup of tea.
LikeLike
Oh, this are lovely. I usually buy some around the holidays. I’ve never made those because of the thinness. On the other hand, some good gingerbread people might not go amiss…
LikeLike
Good luck with the creative process.
LikeLike
Thanks, Geoff. I need luck and a bit of discipline.
LikeLike
I am so pleased you have more time and energy to devote to your writing passion
LikeLike
Thanks, Derrick. With luck, there will be time for it all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great post! Many of my favorite subjects—seeds, gardening, thinking about writing, writing process, actually writing, and dessert! 🙂 thanks for sharing your thoughts on your writing process and difficulties. I’m still trying to make my way along that path. Take care. Stay warm!
LikeLike
Thanks, Cheryl! I think writing is a life long learning process…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was a wonderful read. So much creativity, in writing and gardening. There is something about the arrival of seed catalogs that inspire a sense of hope for the future. Your photos of the table (with seeds catalogs and projects) are wonderful. I have trouble capturing the red canes, too. They just don’t photograph the way I see them.
LikeLike
Thanks, Robin. Every time I started to do the photo, the light changed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad I came by as I see you are recommmitting to writing! Best of success and I’ll look forward to learning more!
LikeLike
Thanks, Laurie. My blog posts have been sporadic, but I’m trying to get started again.
LikeLike
I’m rather intrigued by your novels in progress. That’s pretty exciting stuff. It’d be a hoot to own a book by an author I know. Good luck with it all. Can you give me a hint? Political sabotage? International Bank conspiracy? Romance on the Hudson? High Tech corporate corruption? Maybe it’s about two urban gardeners finding a rare element that proves to save humanity from a growing plaque? Mmmm, I’m dying to know 😀 💗 xK
LikeLike
Ah, Kelly, thanks for coming by and making me laugh! The completed novel is about war and it’s long effects–that, for instance a woman born in the early 20th century could lose a father, a husband, and risk a child to war, all in her lifetime. It features a character who becomes a photographer and follows her through the 20th century’s history. The second one is based on my complete agreement with Joseph Campbell’s quote “We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” It’s a bit more comic than the first and features a larger cast of characters. Enough to spark interest? Actually, Pauline read the first one and liked it. But I don’t think it’s marketable, so needs a bit more dramatic tension.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ha! ha! Well both your novels sound interesting. I enjoy history stories. If they don’t pan out for you, feel free to run with any on my list, LOL !
LikeLike
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find the winter, and the cold, and the cuddling under warm blankets to be a reinvigorating time. And it looks like your muse re-awakened.
Many authors have collections of short stories about characters that are part of their longer series. I wonder if they started as “excess scenes”? And maybe your side-scenes, too, might become standalone short-stories in themselves, rather than excess?
LikeLike
You are right that some of the short stories are other things that happened to the characters or people they know that don’t fit in the story (Thomas Wolfe and his trunks of manuscripts come to mind) but can be their own little stories. It’s possible that some scenes I don’t want to include can become something else. When I read Louise Erdrich, I’m always thrilled to meet a character from another novel in a different story altogether. As for winter, I used to dread it, but now I think of it as a time to snug in and rest (and not be gardening).
LikeLike
Also… I’m surprised that the smaller cookies were more popular than the larger ones 😛
LikeLike
I’m trying to exercise a little discipline…
LikeLike