Teachers Write 3: Let's see if we can make this metaphor work...
I admit it. Using the word "metaphor" when presenting something to teachers makes me very nervous. Do I even know what a metaphor is? (Fact: I never had grammar in high school. Long story.)
It was a very exciting weekend at my house. First, I learned that my new book, SEE YOU AT HARRY'S was an editor's pick in The New York Times! Second, I learned that it was REVIEWED in The New York Times! Many friends sent me photos, including this one, from Laura Hamor:
Wow. I felt like I was walking around in a dream. Except for my aching arms, legs and back.
Why was I aching? Because also over the weekend, my husband, son and I took on a big project: Making a frame for our beloved blueberry bushes to protect them from our greedy birds (we are greedier).
So we started like this:
You can probably see where the metaphor is coming, can't you.
All weekend, SEE YOU AT HARRY'S was on my mind. I was thrilled about the Times. And every so often when I had to get something in the house, I'd check my e-mail and smile each time I read a new message or saw a photo sent from a friend to celebrate with me. But I was also thinking about all the work and aches and pains that went into this book.
Like the blueberries, I wanted to protect certain pieces of the story. Mainly, its heart.
Like the blueberries' frame, a LOT of sweat went into making the book. And each time I thought I was close, I'd realize there was a measurement a bit off. And I'd have to start over again. My body ached. My heart ached. More than once, I got discouraged.
But like the blueberry project, I could visualize the finished work. I knew if we just kept at it, we could do it. There was a lot of digging. You've got to dig very deep to set the framework. Sometimes, when digging deep, you are afraid of what you might find. Sometimes when digging deep, you don't like what you find.
In our case, it was a giant rock. In the case of Harry's, it FELT like hitting a giant rock. A dead end. But with teamwork, my husband and I dug a bigger hole and pulled the rock out. And whenever I hit a rock writing Harry's, I got help from my writer friends.
You get the picture. Writing is a lot like building. It's painful. It's hard. Sometimes, it's silly. But you keep on doing the work. You urge each other on. You pull out the weeds, you fill in the mulch, and then after hours and hours (or months and months--and in Harry's case years and years), you step back, and see you've finally finished!
And then you have permission to collapse. Which is exactly what we did. :-)
Well, not the best metaphor in the world. Maybe, just a comparison. But you get the idea.
My message for you today is that sometimes writing does feel like work. Sometimes, it is hard work. Sometimes, it even hurts. But if you keep at it, if you understand that sometimes you have to go back to the beginning and start over, and sometimes you have to ask for help, you will get there. And you can celebrate with a blueberry muffin. :-)
~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
Share your best recipe with blueberries in it.
Just kidding!
For today's prompt, share a memory of working on a project with someone you love. What was the project? Why were you working on it? Why was it important, or why did it become important? What did you talk about while you worked? What did the materials feel like in your hands? Smell like? Were you physically exhausted? Emotionally? Show us why this memory is important to you.
And remember: Have fun!
It was a very exciting weekend at my house. First, I learned that my new book, SEE YOU AT HARRY'S was an editor's pick in The New York Times! Second, I learned that it was REVIEWED in The New York Times! Many friends sent me photos, including this one, from Laura Hamor:
Wow. I felt like I was walking around in a dream. Except for my aching arms, legs and back.
Why was I aching? Because also over the weekend, my husband, son and I took on a big project: Making a frame for our beloved blueberry bushes to protect them from our greedy birds (we are greedier).
So we started like this:
You can probably see where the metaphor is coming, can't you.
All weekend, SEE YOU AT HARRY'S was on my mind. I was thrilled about the Times. And every so often when I had to get something in the house, I'd check my e-mail and smile each time I read a new message or saw a photo sent from a friend to celebrate with me. But I was also thinking about all the work and aches and pains that went into this book.
Like the blueberries, I wanted to protect certain pieces of the story. Mainly, its heart.
Like the blueberries' frame, a LOT of sweat went into making the book. And each time I thought I was close, I'd realize there was a measurement a bit off. And I'd have to start over again. My body ached. My heart ached. More than once, I got discouraged.
But like the blueberry project, I could visualize the finished work. I knew if we just kept at it, we could do it. There was a lot of digging. You've got to dig very deep to set the framework. Sometimes, when digging deep, you are afraid of what you might find. Sometimes when digging deep, you don't like what you find.
In our case, it was a giant rock. In the case of Harry's, it FELT like hitting a giant rock. A dead end. But with teamwork, my husband and I dug a bigger hole and pulled the rock out. And whenever I hit a rock writing Harry's, I got help from my writer friends.
You get the picture. Writing is a lot like building. It's painful. It's hard. Sometimes, it's silly. But you keep on doing the work. You urge each other on. You pull out the weeds, you fill in the mulch, and then after hours and hours (or months and months--and in Harry's case years and years), you step back, and see you've finally finished!
And then you have permission to collapse. Which is exactly what we did. :-)
Well, not the best metaphor in the world. Maybe, just a comparison. But you get the idea.
My message for you today is that sometimes writing does feel like work. Sometimes, it is hard work. Sometimes, it even hurts. But if you keep at it, if you understand that sometimes you have to go back to the beginning and start over, and sometimes you have to ask for help, you will get there. And you can celebrate with a blueberry muffin. :-)
~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
Share your best recipe with blueberries in it.
Just kidding!
For today's prompt, share a memory of working on a project with someone you love. What was the project? Why were you working on it? Why was it important, or why did it become important? What did you talk about while you worked? What did the materials feel like in your hands? Smell like? Were you physically exhausted? Emotionally? Show us why this memory is important to you.
And remember: Have fun!
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