Writing a Novel Like Planting a Garden By Connie Vines

Writing a novel is a lot like landscaping. 

You start with an empty lot. You see the potential. You also see the weeds, uneven ground, and iffy soil. (With a novel, this is when you tell yourself the options are without limits.)

With a garden, you must decide where there is direct sunlight and evaluate the soil. (outline, research.). Then comes planting many seeds-- more than is needed for a healthy garden.

Step one: Preparation

Only some of the seeds I plant will take root. Some will be healthy, others weak. It takes 4 - 6 weeks for the seeds to grow. (This is the character development and information-gathering time in a novel.) and aside from watering and daily soil monitoring, I must walk away.

Tomato plants: one may be removed 😞

When I return, the plants have taken root, and the leaves are visible. Now begins the thinning process--removing sickly plants, moving sturdy plants, and supporting weak plants. This will occur several times, allowing an interval between each pruning/thinning (editing). Some will need to be more robust (fleshing out characters). Others will appear strong and healthy, but my harbor issues that could undermine the entire crop (story).

Rose Garden #1

I can't play favorites when it comes to gardening. I may love one plant more than another. However, it must be removed if it's not meant for this world (my novel). A hard decision, but it's necessary for the best harvest.

The Fragrance 😘👼

I also keep a notebook titled: My Story Garden.

In this garden, I grow seeds of a story. Some of them are lines of dialogue, while others are scenes. I plant them in my garden when they first come to me, and they stay until I decide it's right for a particular story. Pet peeves, fears, goals, and dreams.

Connie's Story Garden 

Thank you for stopping by 😀,

Connie

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