Exploring the Writing - Gardening Connection Guest Post by @KWilkinsAuthor

Exploring the Writing–Gardening Connection 

By Kelli A. Wilkins 

www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins 

One day after working in the yard, I stood back and took a look at my handiwork. I had just finished pruning my lilacs and weeding a huge flowerbed. Everything seemed to be glowing and vibrating with a renewed energy. The yard looked better and felt better. 

I always feel kinda bad about cutting back the lilacs, but then I thought, “The pruning needs to be done, otherwise everything gets overgrown and suffocated.” 

Then it dawned on me that I’ve been doing the same thing with my writing—pruning and weeding what’s been long overgrown. 

For the last two years I’ve been in a cycle of re-releasing my romances previously published by Amber Quill Press (while writing new books). I’m rediscovering the stories and characters after being away from them for many years. Each book is being revised, re-edited, and in some cases, parts are completely rewritten.  

I’ve deleted scenes that no longer work, added new ones, and given each story a pruning—of dialogue tags, excess words, too many exclamation points, and yanking other weeds that need pulling from these gardens. As a result, the books are stronger and better than ever. (And most have fabulous new covers.) 

If you’re editing a short story or a novel, ask yourself, “What is necessary to this scene? What can I cut?” You might be amazed to find that tightening a scene or a chapter makes it stronger and helps the story flourish in the long run.  

But I’m not stopping my “pruning” process with my books. I’m also weeding out other things in my writing world that are overgrown and need to go—old market guidelines, bits and pieces of story ideas that I no longer need, short romance stories that never went anywhere… the list goes on. I’ve sorted through about a hundred file folders and recycled bins full of paper. And I’ve extended this to my electronic world by deleting unnecessary files and updating my blog and website. 

It’s refreshing to have less stuff to maintain. I now have a clearer path to what I want to work on next, and I’m not bogged down with clutter or overwhelmed by “writing weeds.” 

Each spring, I ask myself a few questions about my flowerbeds: What do I want to plant? Where? What died off over the winter that needs to be replaced? I’m asking these types of questions about my writing life too, wondering: What do I want to write next? Do I want to go back to writing horror stories for a while? Finish my next three romance novels? Should I take some time off from writing?  

I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’ll sit in the garden and think about them! 

Writing a novel or a short story is a lot like planting a flowerbed. First, you need an idea or a basis for the story (a place where you’ll plant). Then you start the hard work, writing the book (digging and planting). After your first draft is finished (your flowers are blooming), you have to edit and revise your work (weed and prune as needed!). Once that’s all done, you’ll move on to marketing your story (inviting friends over to see your flowers). 

Writing and gardening take time, energy, and commitment, but in the long run, the results are worth it. After a long day, you can sit back and admire all your hard work. 

Enjoy the summer! 

Kelli 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 19 romance novels, and 5 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels.  

Her third gay romance, Four Days with Jack, was released in June 2017. Kelli’s trilogy of erotic romance novellas, Midsummer Night’s Delights, Midwinter Night’s Delights, and Ultimate Night’s Delights was published in spring 2017.  

Loving a Wild Stranger was published in January 2017. This historical/pioneer romance is set in the wilds of the Michigan Territory and blends tender romance with adventure. 

Kelli's third Medallion Press romance, Lies, Love & Redemption was released in September 2016. This spicy historical western is set on the Nebraska prairie in 1877. 

Her writing book, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and informative guide filled with writing exercises and helpful tips all authors can use. 

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.  

She also writes a weekly blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/.  

Visit her website, www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about all of her writings, read book excerpts, reviews, and more. Readers can sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb. 

CATCH UP WITH KELLI 

Here are a few links to find Kelli & her writings on the web 

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins 

Website: http://www.KelliWilkins.com  

Blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/  

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb 

Medallion Press Author Page: http://medallionpress.com/author/kelli-wilkins/  Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins 

Facebook Historical Romances: https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1703805359922371/ 

Facebook Contemporary Romances: https://www.facebook.com/Contemporary-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1965702023664339/ 

Facebook Gay Romances: https://www.facebook.com/GayRomancesbyKelliAWilkins/  

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor  

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KWilkinsAuthor/ 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1123678.Kelli_A_Wilkins  

Snapshot - How Does Your Garden Grow?

It's a miracle!

On Pinterest I have a board titled "Secret Garden". The secret to my garden is that I have one this year and I usually don't attempt it. I actually have seedlings sprouting. I can hardly contain my excitement:

I decided the trick to managing an acre of plantable land is to throw too many seeds in one pot. Not logical, I know, but look!! It's working!!!

My first roses, etc, are out, too..... LOVE!!

Remember that rose "tree" that I over-pruned last year? I let it sprawl where it will this year... and I have an ABUNDANCE of these blushing yellow beauties. I should take a picture for you, huh?  Alrighty... it's raining, but we don't mind. We're Oregonians (the roses and I).

You may thank Alyce @ At Home with Books for hosting Saturday Snapshot and encouraging me to share pictures I take despite lacking photo-taking skills. Or blame me for my pathetic gardening attempts and baring the bumblings online. Lol.

Snapshot - Roses, etc

Alyce @ At Home with Books hosts Saturday Snapshot, which is when I indulge in sharing my photo album to unsuspecting readers.

I already shared the pictures I took this week for getting raffle prizes for the car show I volunteer for. I have also taken pix of the kids swimming, which I'm sure they'd be thrilled if I posted. Lol. Instead, I'm going back to June when my yard burst into bloom despite me.

I am SO not a gardener even at the most extravagant stretch of the concept. But I did inherit my wild acre from someone who was. I am so blessed!!

I think someone planted this Clematis next to this Brodie (our term) on purpose, they're so beautiful together.

This is the famous Burgandy Ice rose given to me by my Cool, Man and the inspiration behind my name. My picture doesn't show the silver tinge or the depth of deep velvety red. (Oddly enough, I'm not a photographer, either!!  Not a concern.)

This is my favorite new mystery rose. It sprouted in an awkward location and has thrived under my hands-off approach... so much so that I wrapped it around the porch where an award-winning Clematis used to reign before I killed it. (Confessions later. Maybe.)

A beautiful example of an entire string of rose bushes that I have no clue how to manage. They're squished in between the cars, the dog kennel, and the shop.  I mostly help myself to cuttings to see and smell their abundant deliciousness. I wish I could add scratch -n- sniff to this post, their fragrance is powerful-sweet.

My favorite rose bush has yet to bloom this year b/c I attempted to care for it by pruning. It's producing greenery in a frantic survival technique that has me apologizing outloud to it every time I walk by. It's such a tree that its blooms hide over the roof of the house, you see, and I had hoped it would let me watch the show from my kitchen window this year, instead.  But no... it likes to sprawl or else it won't give me anything. They're rather moody things, roses.