A weblog devoted to spurring a conversation among those who use words to varying degrees in their daily work. Hosted by John Ettorre, a Cleveland-based writer and editor. Please email me at: john.ettorre@gmail.com. "There comes a time when you realize that everything is a dream, and only those things preserved in writing have any possibility of being real." --James Salter
Here's How Writing & Farming Are Alike
I'm a Cleveland, Ohio-based writer, editor and writing coach, with more than 25 years of experience, including stints in Chicago and Washington, D.C. My work has appeared in more than 100 print and online publications, from the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor to local and regional publications. My work has been recognized by awards (including an Emmy) from four journalism groups.
11 Comments:
What I'm trying to write is leaving a furrow across my brow. Argh!
Think I will imagine some farmland and go for a walk.
Another reason why they might be alike: I just completed some highly embellished ads and felt as though I was spreading a load of fertilizer. The customer was happy though, so I see your walk in the country and raise you a yehah!
Here's another reason: jobs are drying up like a lifesucking drought. Maybe I'll get better earthy experience for a gritty novel at my grunt job, which at this point I am thankful to have. Parched and shriveled bank account -- the heat of the summer has not even begun.
We have the beginnings of a lively thread here, and all posted whilst I sat in the cold and drizzle, watching the Indians game. But it helped that the company was first-rate, and the seats were splendid, right behind the Tribe dugout. What a lovely view of the game. But I admit that I peaked at email between innings, including these wonderful posts (I happen to get an email alert whenever someone adds a comment, so I can read them seconds after y'all leave them). Love the names and nicknames here. Don't know if I know any of you, but whether I do or not, thanks for visiting.
The farmer knows how dependent he is on the sun, wind, and rain. Now we are far more aware of how dependent we are on things beyond our control. I was thinking about that recently. As hard as it is, it is very grounding as well.
Love the ideas you are sowing, John.
Nicely said, Carmen. We can all use some additional grounding now and again, can't we? The entire culture got carried away in a decades-long fit of affluenza, and we're reaping the results. There will be a lot of good coming out of some of this economic pain being felt by many. None of these ideas would be worth sharing without wonderful readers like you. I feel blessed that way.
The seed of an idea, however, can grow forever. No matter the age or profession, we all can teach each other.
"I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, but most of all from my pupils."
-Maimondes
You said it, Craig. Every time I speak or present, I learn a half dozen or more useful things.
Not every seed or idea is worth nurturing.
I came across this video, that although it takes some time to watch, it discusses so beautifully the process of nurturing practical wisdom, defined by Aristotle as "a combination of moral will and moral skill."
Beautiful nuggets like this, "A wise person is like a jazz musician who knows how to improvise by using the notes on a page, but dances around them." Certain hard and fast values may be the values one grows up with, job parameters, or lessons learned by making painful mistakes can form the basic score.
Hard times for all can encourage a recalibration of our moral compasses. Mine has immeasurably benefited from our encouraged time of silence and listening.
Any one that considers the steps outlined here, encourages their heart, home, school, business, and nation to be a place that nurtures excellence in the company of values like kindness, care, and empathy.
I also found it interesting that this begins with a quote from Obama. Very thought provoking and worthwhile for anyone who is into mentoring as well.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/barry_schwartz_on_our_loss_of_wisdom.html
Making art is also like farming in terms of crop rotation: don't do the same thing all the time. And in terms of fallow periods: sometimes you have to let is sit for awhile before doing anything with it. Trying to force things is often what leads to problems, rather than letting them lie.
Crop rotation is the perfect metaphor for creative pursuits. As it happens, I chose to go fallow myself (at least in this venue) for about six weeks, which is precisely what Art's talking about.
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