Hi, Beverly. I love the idea of sitting with my writing as if I am sitting with a dying friend. It can be hard, but it feels right to be there, and the situation calls for honesty delivered with kindness and forgiveness, useful guidelines while reviewing the words that have come through my fingertips, before turning to whacking back the shrubbery of unnecessarey repetitions and muddled digressions.
Beverly, liminal space is where the magic happens. I am definitely a plotter. It helps when writing tangled historical mysteries. Yet, when I take my morning walk, I allow myself to roam around in upcoming scenes, just imagining. This week a character pushed her way into my story. Who knows where she came from. But I realized that she is necessary. I so enjoyed your adventures in writing. And Annie Dillard: my first published book review was on Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.
Wonderful post Beverly. Bushwhacking through the writing process seems a lot like the pursuit of happy accidents with painting. Somehow the marks I did not try to make imbue the painting with excitement, with life.
Hi, Beverly. I love the idea of sitting with my writing as if I am sitting with a dying friend. It can be hard, but it feels right to be there, and the situation calls for honesty delivered with kindness and forgiveness, useful guidelines while reviewing the words that have come through my fingertips, before turning to whacking back the shrubbery of unnecessarey repetitions and muddled digressions.
Glad you like that metaphor. I love it too.
Hi Beverly,
I enjoyed this. I'm a pantser too!
Megan
I'm definitely a pantser too!
I can't imagine otherwise.
Beverly, liminal space is where the magic happens. I am definitely a plotter. It helps when writing tangled historical mysteries. Yet, when I take my morning walk, I allow myself to roam around in upcoming scenes, just imagining. This week a character pushed her way into my story. Who knows where she came from. But I realized that she is necessary. I so enjoyed your adventures in writing. And Annie Dillard: my first published book review was on Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.
The division between the two can't be firm. It's not as if I don't do any planning. I love it when a surprise like a new character shows up.
Wonderful post Beverly. Bushwhacking through the writing process seems a lot like the pursuit of happy accidents with painting. Somehow the marks I did not try to make imbue the painting with excitement, with life.
Yes, I thought of some of our conversations about that.
Bushwhacking. What a lovely metaphor for writing. 🙏🏻
My fav.