nichepoetryandprose

As you may know, my manuscript of poetry on ‘growing and gathering’ local foods is completed (see the page ‘awards and accomplishments – completed my Creations project!!!,  November 1, 2012’ under ‘about’).

Now, I have about six months before I can begin the next poetry project I have planned.  I have to wait until spring because the new project also involves plants and uses of plants.  And, of course, spring and summer are the best time to pursue this subject.  In the meanwhile, during the fall and winter, I have decided to work on a different kind of writing project.  I want to try my hand at writing a novel.  I have written novels before (nothing published), so I have a little experience.

a stack of my Rough Books

I know how different writing a novel and writing poetry are, and yet there are similarities.  Both forms of writing are creative, both seek to use words well to convey ideas, both require vetting before a writerly audience, and both need the energy of the edit.  I also think both benefit from a little exposure before completion.  So I have decided to bring my novel-writing project to my blog.

When I worked on ‘growing and gathering’, I benefited greatly from being able to explore my ideas on-line.  I found both the writing practice, and your comments and ongoing readership, very helpful.

Since I want to publish the novel when I complete it, I will be careful to publish only a small percentage of the story on-line.  I also want to maintain suspense, so I will not reveal too much of the plot.  However, I will explore where some of the ideas for the book originate, a little about characterisation, and something about the process as the book evolves into being.

During this month, I have been taking a course called Writing Life Stories from a friend and writing coach, Deborah Carr (for her beautiful website ‘Nature of Words’ and information on taking her Writing Workshops, see http://www.natureofwords.com/ ).

Deborah has helped me to understand the basic ‘three’ of all stories… a story tells us:

1.  someone wants something

2.  how they reach for it

3.  the result

When I think about the story I want to tell, I will also follow this simple path…

Copyright  Jane Tims  2012