Dreaming Again

“You’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

- Les Brown

A new year is the perfect time to set new goals, dream new dreams and awaken the sleeping writer from their page-less slumber. How do we revive our creativity and stimulate our waiting fingers to type out the great American novel (or romance book, magazine article, etc.)?

 As writers, we can take a few lessons from the ardent gardener who longs for spring in the middle of a long winter. On the coldest of days you can find them with a seed catalog in hand, pouring over it as they imagine the beautiful scene, or the luscious results, from the plot of land that will be a display case for their creative minds and diligent work. They dream, they set goals, then make their plans and take the steps to succeed. As writers, we are also in the “gardener” category, with some times being more fruitful than others.

Here are some gardening helps to tend the field of dreams and words.

 Journal

 With the gardener, no entry is too short, or too long. It may be writing a “wish list,” or drawing a detailed sketch. Writers should write whatever comes to mind, no matter how simple, silly or deep minded. There may be a seed of an idea that could later blossom in the “spring”.

Pruning and Grafting

Take out the old journals and notebooks and be re-inspired. Glean the useful portions to start a new work or transplant into a current project.

Development

As the gardener researches new designs and plants, we should go to the writing books or magazines for information to help prepare the work. Other research for your book or article can help you cultivate a new crop of ideas.

Plan the layout

Sketch out your garden. Put your ideas in an outline of sorts to help “plot your plot”.

 Work the soil

When things warm up, it’s time to work and amend the soil. The preparation ahead of planting will help reap a larger yield, and a more productive work day for a writer.
 

Plant the crop

Whether it’s large or small, the garden, or writing project, must be actually planted to produce the finished project. This takes work, but the future harvest is always worth the effort.

Always remember - the experienced gardener, or writer, plans for growth, not failure.

Jerolyn Lockhart