Wonderful wise counsel Samantha! I hear it as a call for freedom. Learn the rules and then forget them. Templates kill real creativity. To quote Joseph Campbell:
"You can write that sentence in a way that you would have written it last year. Or you can write it in the way of the exquisite nuance that is writing in your mind now. But that takes a lot of … waiting for the right word to come."
I know that feeling - You think you are really onto something this time, and then you try and get it down on the page and somehow it just all goes a bit...meh!
I have Jane Alison's book by my elbow as a constant right now as I work towards finding the pattern that fits my WIP. It is a creative lifesaver, even a life-raft!
Funnily enough I’m reading Jane Alison’s book too! And quietly thinking about the form that might suit the pieces I’m collecting around the moss. I think there’s a lot to be said for learning from the books we love reading. I tend to think that the arc may be better suited to fiction rather than non-fiction.
Yes, Michela, I think you might be right - fiction uses the line of a plot to give it momentum, but nonfiction and memoir can use other tools, other structures. I love the idea of a collection of mosses, growing in clumps!
Thank you for sharing this wise advice, Samantha! I am embarking on a long-term project (a book! But don't tell anyone, haha) and have been feeling unsure how to structure it. My first book was a collection of poetry that followed the wheel of the year, so it was circular, whereas this one feels more meandering and watery. So, this piece arrived with perfect and synchronicitous timing. Thanks again x
I agree with you about this arc thing, and not just its use in literature but in real lives too. If all we all had was a single arc then the world would be full of regretful souls living in the aftermaths of whatever their peak moment was. But it’s not like that is it? Or only in hack Hollywood movies and “in recovery” celebrity memoirs. For most of us I suspect and hope the next arc is forever on its way.
Very much appreciated Samantha. I respond to you more as a follower- a fan - than as one trained in the field of intelligent writing. Just two remarks today, though I sometimes say that and struggle to stop!
First: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has been a favorite author for leisurely reading for over four decades. Hearing his arc for “Cinderella” today brought a smile to my face.
Second: Suggesting “The Clearing” to your readers is a well earned privilege. Not just that you wrote it, of course. More so for what you wrote. Little did I know at that time that I would one day be following your painting and be gasping at your techniques.
I can't find the books at the moment and can't remember who wrote them(!) (my excuse is that since we moved to Brittany about 2000 of my books are still in boxes), but there are amazing essays on colour in two books: The Primary Colours and The Secondary Colours. I think the first title has been used elsewhere for other books, so I'll see what I can track down.
Aha! Later: The Primary Colours is by Alexander Theroux.
Oooh, thank you Roselle - I hadn't heard of these essays on colour but they do sound enticing reads! I wonder if Alexander is related to Paul and Louis Theroux?
Thank you Paul, although I can't take the credit for these insights - I'm just passing them along! So glad to hear you're finding them inspiring for your own writing.
Hi Sam, you’re always so generous with your wisdom and advice. I thoroughly enjoy how you weave these articles together. Thank you for sharing all this gold!!!! X
Wonderful wise counsel Samantha! I hear it as a call for freedom. Learn the rules and then forget them. Templates kill real creativity. To quote Joseph Campbell:
"You can write that sentence in a way that you would have written it last year. Or you can write it in the way of the exquisite nuance that is writing in your mind now. But that takes a lot of … waiting for the right word to come."
I know that feeling - You think you are really onto something this time, and then you try and get it down on the page and somehow it just all goes a bit...meh!
I have Jane Alison's book by my elbow as a constant right now as I work towards finding the pattern that fits my WIP. It is a creative lifesaver, even a life-raft!
Isn't it great! It was a 'hell yeah!' from me as soon as I picked it up!
Funnily enough I’m reading Jane Alison’s book too! And quietly thinking about the form that might suit the pieces I’m collecting around the moss. I think there’s a lot to be said for learning from the books we love reading. I tend to think that the arc may be better suited to fiction rather than non-fiction.
Yes, Michela, I think you might be right - fiction uses the line of a plot to give it momentum, but nonfiction and memoir can use other tools, other structures. I love the idea of a collection of mosses, growing in clumps!
Absolutely Sam, it’s brilliant!
Thank you for sharing this wise advice, Samantha! I am embarking on a long-term project (a book! But don't tell anyone, haha) and have been feeling unsure how to structure it. My first book was a collection of poetry that followed the wheel of the year, so it was circular, whereas this one feels more meandering and watery. So, this piece arrived with perfect and synchronicitous timing. Thanks again x
I love the idea of a story that meanders like a stream, new things coming into view at each twisting turn, but always flowing onwards.
I agree with you about this arc thing, and not just its use in literature but in real lives too. If all we all had was a single arc then the world would be full of regretful souls living in the aftermaths of whatever their peak moment was. But it’s not like that is it? Or only in hack Hollywood movies and “in recovery” celebrity memoirs. For most of us I suspect and hope the next arc is forever on its way.
Absolutely so, Ronnie. Real life is never so neat.
Very much appreciated Samantha. I respond to you more as a follower- a fan - than as one trained in the field of intelligent writing. Just two remarks today, though I sometimes say that and struggle to stop!
First: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has been a favorite author for leisurely reading for over four decades. Hearing his arc for “Cinderella” today brought a smile to my face.
Second: Suggesting “The Clearing” to your readers is a well earned privilege. Not just that you wrote it, of course. More so for what you wrote. Little did I know at that time that I would one day be following your painting and be gasping at your techniques.
Best wishes for this holiday season.
Thank you Gary - wishing you a peaceful holiday season too!
Lovely. I like that kind of writing too.
I can't find the books at the moment and can't remember who wrote them(!) (my excuse is that since we moved to Brittany about 2000 of my books are still in boxes), but there are amazing essays on colour in two books: The Primary Colours and The Secondary Colours. I think the first title has been used elsewhere for other books, so I'll see what I can track down.
Aha! Later: The Primary Colours is by Alexander Theroux.
Thank you. I enjoy your posts. Roselle
Oooh, thank you Roselle - I hadn't heard of these essays on colour but they do sound enticing reads! I wonder if Alexander is related to Paul and Louis Theroux?
Samantha, such brilliant insights! Your writing is so inspirational.
Thank you Paul, although I can't take the credit for these insights - I'm just passing them along! So glad to hear you're finding them inspiring for your own writing.
There is often just as much art needed to gather these gems as to write them. Yes, you inspire my writing and my life!
Thank you so much for letting me know, Paul. I am really touched by this.
That's brilliant, thank you!
Lovely post, Sam. I've always found the Vonnegut video hilarious but I agree with your proposition that we don’t need an ‘arc’.
Alison x
He’s so funny he’s hard to resist...and yet so much good writing, esp nonfiction, just doesn’t fit that mould. Hope you arm is healing?
I agree. ATM healing slowly but still with much pain. This too shall pass… x
Hi Sam, you’re always so generous with your wisdom and advice. I thoroughly enjoy how you weave these articles together. Thank you for sharing all this gold!!!! X
You’re so welcome Beth - I’m just passing it along!
I needed this this morning, as I work on the structure for book two which is resisting a linear arc. Thank you!
Glad to hear it’s useful Joanna. Excited to know there’s a book two in the pipeline too!