Your suggestion about beginning with a date reminds me that one of the most famous novels ever begins with a date: "1801." I wonder if Emily Bronte couldn't think of where to begin ... :)
Today I got frustrated, got up and went to the garden to tie the tomatoes (some now 7 feet high) and do a little weeding. A little. Ha. I was out until dark. Six hours.
I was shocked at how I had neglected it, as I often do near the end, when I figure the season is about over. Why? Why do I lose interest? Or lose the rhythm, the thread, the realization that it takes work every day, not in bursts.
But here is what I discovered: a mouse nest--with mouse. A giant wolf spider that did Not bite me, several volunteer new shoots of dill and cilantro. And there, in one neglected end of a row, in amongst the weeds, was a small patch of young hearty beets. Now weeded. And watered. Looking almost like spring.
I think I just lose concentration, want to move on to new things. Stamina. Daily tending. New shoots.
It felt good. I ate a carrot and watched the sun hide behind the mountains and turn the world gold-orange-red-pink-lavender-purple.
Geoffrey, I've been mulling over this. Has this happened with a manuscript? Have you come back to a "neglected" one, found the treasures in it, and gone on with the work? (Found the spring in it?) Then sat to see the sun set on it? This is very good.
Sorry, was mostly off the grid. Yes this happened with my current manuscript. For reason mostly to do with continuous family visits all summer (delightful) I set aside the novel for much longer than planned. So my brain has gotten a little disengaged from it. But now am tending, weeding, organizing, getting back in flow.
When I was teaching English and teaching Wuthering Heights, I spent a whole class on 1801. This after a student asked why I'd set aside three weeks for the novel. At the end of that first class, I said, See, we spent a whole class on the first word; at this rate it will take us 1000 years (more, actually).
I was just writing an email about how life hands us gifts at times... and return to this. Such bits to play with and turn over in our hands feel the same.
Or, if you click on the "Unschool for Writers" at the top of the page, it'll take you right to Substack site, and you'll see it in the list of posts... Thank you for asking--you are probably not the only one.
Hi Alison,
Your suggestion about beginning with a date reminds me that one of the most famous novels ever begins with a date: "1801." I wonder if Emily Bronte couldn't think of where to begin ... :)
Sheldon
Ha! I do like the thought...
Today I got frustrated, got up and went to the garden to tie the tomatoes (some now 7 feet high) and do a little weeding. A little. Ha. I was out until dark. Six hours.
I was shocked at how I had neglected it, as I often do near the end, when I figure the season is about over. Why? Why do I lose interest? Or lose the rhythm, the thread, the realization that it takes work every day, not in bursts.
But here is what I discovered: a mouse nest--with mouse. A giant wolf spider that did Not bite me, several volunteer new shoots of dill and cilantro. And there, in one neglected end of a row, in amongst the weeds, was a small patch of young hearty beets. Now weeded. And watered. Looking almost like spring.
I think I just lose concentration, want to move on to new things. Stamina. Daily tending. New shoots.
It felt good. I ate a carrot and watched the sun hide behind the mountains and turn the world gold-orange-red-pink-lavender-purple.
Geoffrey, I've been mulling over this. Has this happened with a manuscript? Have you come back to a "neglected" one, found the treasures in it, and gone on with the work? (Found the spring in it?) Then sat to see the sun set on it? This is very good.
Sorry, was mostly off the grid. Yes this happened with my current manuscript. For reason mostly to do with continuous family visits all summer (delightful) I set aside the novel for much longer than planned. So my brain has gotten a little disengaged from it. But now am tending, weeding, organizing, getting back in flow.
When I was teaching English and teaching Wuthering Heights, I spent a whole class on 1801. This after a student asked why I'd set aside three weeks for the novel. At the end of that first class, I said, See, we spent a whole class on the first word; at this rate it will take us 1000 years (more, actually).
I was just writing an email about how life hands us gifts at times... and return to this. Such bits to play with and turn over in our hands feel the same.
That is an amazing photo - good for you, Alison!!!!!!!!!!!
We need to continue to surprise our selves :) Thank you, Amy!
I'm a techno-idiot - where is the prompt thread?
Right here: https://unschoolforwriters.substack.com/p/september-prompt-thread-voice/comments
Or, if you click on the "Unschool for Writers" at the top of the page, it'll take you right to Substack site, and you'll see it in the list of posts... Thank you for asking--you are probably not the only one.