The unexpected joys of writing (or – don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!)
As some of you know, I’m in the middle of writing a story for Amber Quill that features an orgy. Yikes! I definitely had days in the beginning where I wondered what the heck I was thinking. After several starts and tosses (which tend to be how I write) I finally found my stride and am having fun with it.
My female protagonist in the story, Mia, is a sculptor, and throughout the course of the story there are scenes from a clay pottery class she’s teaching. Now, I probably haven’t actually worked with clay since high school art class. Of course, like many writers, I turned to the internet for information and a few of the details. Working with my critique group, I had an interesting comment from someone. Need more details in the class – more ‘showing’, less ‘telling’ (and all the writers out there know, if we had a nickel, or even a penny, from every time someone told us that, etc etc).
Time to do some research. I’ve always been nervous about doing research. I’m a bit uncomfortable with calling up someone and saying ‘hi, I’m a fiction writer and I need some details on what you do.’ Fortunately, however, I’ve been listening to Anne Lamott and her wonderful book ‘Bird by Bird’ and lecture based on the book ‘Word by Word’. I recommend them highly if you need some inspiration. In both of those, she liberally encourages writers to pick up the phone and call experts in the field to get information.
So, fortified with my Anne Lamott-inspired courage, I found a local pottery studio, called the owner, and set up an appointment to spend an evening with them. I had an amazing time. I do find writers, artists, and musicians always mix well, so that probably helped. I was able to observe the processes, look at tools and ask their names, talk to people about their triumphs and failures, and get my questions answered about timelines and the glazing process (no, it’s not realistic to expect people to mold with clay and get their pieces fired and glazed over the one week course of my story!). I watched people throw pots on wheels, trim, add handles, mold over bowls and add textures, and braid extruded coils. A wonderful woman making garden spikes took me through her process step by step and had me use rubber stamps to imprint the names of the plants – trickier than it looked.
Will I use everything I learned in the story – of course not. But it was a very worthwhile trip, in three ways. 1. People love to talk about what they do – don’t be afraid to ask. 2. I got a much better sense of the art I’m working with, and that will infuse my scenes so they don’t scream stupid. And 3. (most important) For heaven’s sakes, do your research first! I’d create a sign that says that and post it by my computer, but I’m sure I won’t forget the time I’m now spending rewriting my pottery class scenes.
Contest note – If you like this blog (or even if you just read it!) leave me a comment. Everyone leaving a comment on my blogs during May will be entered in a draw for a $10 Amber Quill Press gift certificate, one entry per comment.
-Kelsey Lewis
Shamelessly erotic
www.kelsey-lewis.com
My female protagonist in the story, Mia, is a sculptor, and throughout the course of the story there are scenes from a clay pottery class she’s teaching. Now, I probably haven’t actually worked with clay since high school art class. Of course, like many writers, I turned to the internet for information and a few of the details. Working with my critique group, I had an interesting comment from someone. Need more details in the class – more ‘showing’, less ‘telling’ (and all the writers out there know, if we had a nickel, or even a penny, from every time someone told us that, etc etc).
Time to do some research. I’ve always been nervous about doing research. I’m a bit uncomfortable with calling up someone and saying ‘hi, I’m a fiction writer and I need some details on what you do.’ Fortunately, however, I’ve been listening to Anne Lamott and her wonderful book ‘Bird by Bird’ and lecture based on the book ‘Word by Word’. I recommend them highly if you need some inspiration. In both of those, she liberally encourages writers to pick up the phone and call experts in the field to get information.
So, fortified with my Anne Lamott-inspired courage, I found a local pottery studio, called the owner, and set up an appointment to spend an evening with them. I had an amazing time. I do find writers, artists, and musicians always mix well, so that probably helped. I was able to observe the processes, look at tools and ask their names, talk to people about their triumphs and failures, and get my questions answered about timelines and the glazing process (no, it’s not realistic to expect people to mold with clay and get their pieces fired and glazed over the one week course of my story!). I watched people throw pots on wheels, trim, add handles, mold over bowls and add textures, and braid extruded coils. A wonderful woman making garden spikes took me through her process step by step and had me use rubber stamps to imprint the names of the plants – trickier than it looked.
Will I use everything I learned in the story – of course not. But it was a very worthwhile trip, in three ways. 1. People love to talk about what they do – don’t be afraid to ask. 2. I got a much better sense of the art I’m working with, and that will infuse my scenes so they don’t scream stupid. And 3. (most important) For heaven’s sakes, do your research first! I’d create a sign that says that and post it by my computer, but I’m sure I won’t forget the time I’m now spending rewriting my pottery class scenes.
Contest note – If you like this blog (or even if you just read it!) leave me a comment. Everyone leaving a comment on my blogs during May will be entered in a draw for a $10 Amber Quill Press gift certificate, one entry per comment.
-Kelsey Lewis
Shamelessly erotic
www.kelsey-lewis.com
posted by Kelsey Lewis | 8:04 AM
1 Comments:
As a reader, I really appreciate the realism of a scene, so thanks for putting in that extra time for research. Plus, I love learning fun facts about new things.
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