Notes to a Writer's Self

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The first flakes of the fabled thundersnow have started to fall. Home will be the globe now, so they tell us.

Today, while talking with clients, while reviewing proposals, while sending an email or two, I had this thought about the novel that I wrote for adults, a novel that needs another round of attention before I send it out newly into the publishing world.

If a single transition—in a poem, in a story, in a novel—is broken, then the whole is broken; it is untenable and marred.

Find the broken transition. Fix it. And when you do you will find the novel (the story, the poem) opening itself to you in ways you could not, before, imagine. You will find your novel capable of more. Yourself, too.

Be capable of more.

6 comments:

Melissa Walker said...

How do you put these poetic posts together, Beth? And whole novels of such beauty.

I was thinking of you tonight as I took my children's book class. (I'm learning to write picture books--and it's VERY hard!) Have you dabbled in those waters? Your poetic nature would serve you very, very well.

Sherrie Petersen said...

Beautiful, and so very true. Every sentence has to work.

Unknown said...

Your posts about writing make me wish I lived closer so that I could take one of your classes or attend a workshop that you're teaching. :)

Sage Ravenwood said...

You inspire sweet friend. I'm working to fix the broken parts, slowly but surely.(Hugs)Indigo

septembermom said...

You help me with that line: "Be capable of more." Thank you Beth.

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