If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. —Cicero

Gardening and Farming

The other day, I was talking to my husband about different kinds of writers. I was pointing out that not all writers are goal-driven. Some simply enjoy the writing life and the positive benefits that writing gives them. “It’s like the difference between gardening and farming,” he said. “Gardeners enjoy their time nurturing the plants, while farmers are looking for a specific output.” Not a bad analogy.

Even writers focused on producing a finished draft sometimes stop to enjoy the process.

And Crossover

Of course, there is a bit of farmer in every gardener and a bit of gardener in every farmer. Even writers with no publishing aspirations often want to finish an essay, story, or book. And even writers focused on producing a finished draft sometimes stop to enjoy the process. This time of year, as I drive past large piles of pumpkins for sale by the side of the road, I often find myself thinking about National Novel Writing Month, which begins November 1. Participants attempt to write 50,000 words by the end of the month—the length of a novel. This is farming indeed, and many people love the challenge.

Sowing to Reap

If you want to do this, it’s a good idea to prepare the soil well and to select the right seeds. Bookflow has tools that can help you consider characters, theme, and structure.