IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PREPARATION...
Over the past few years, we've had quite a few major celebrations at the old homestead.
Two fiftieths, a couple of Christmases, one eightieth and just last weekend the biggest affair so far, an engagement party.
Touch wood, all events have gone amazingly well.
This, of course, has meant lots and lots, and lots and lots, of preparation beforehand.
Nobody wakes up one morning and says,' oh 80 or so folks coming tonight, wonder what's in the fridge?'
It requires thought, planning, preparation...and lots of damned hard work!
Nothing just happens....
You plan, hope the weather is perfect (and have a Plan B if not - or if the power goes off like the 80th party).
Usually there is a theme, the engagement was a picnic casual affair. We had rugs on the front lawn (begged, borrowed and stolen), we had a trestle table laid out with yummies, baskets held aeroguard as well as torches...and fairy lights helped create an atmosphere.
The chef at the pizza station was all set up...and raring to go.
Drink station set up, only needed the two cocktails and the non-alcoholic punch and we were almost ready to go. Beer, ciders and soft drinks chilling in the iced eskies.
Of course this was only the surface preparation---beforehand there were many discussions on what, when, who, where.......
Once that was all established there was also the 'fun' aspect of having a function at your place- the cleaning.
A great time was had by all yet none of this could have been achieved without the planning and preparation.
Taking the analogy to writing and we get so excited about the 'fun' stuff. We have a new idea and we race to get it down. We are entranced, delighted, happy. We scribble away, or tap away and.....
Do we then send it out into the world?
Would hope not. Not yet. Even if all the preparation has been done before hand, the research, the understanding of what, when, who and where.... And of course we know the theme (or do we, that's another story entirely).
As we all know, once the party is over, there is still much to do.
The clean up. Washing of dishes, fitting food into the fridge, over loading of rubbish bins. Wandering the house and gardens and wondering how did wine glasses / beer cans / cider cans/ end up there?
Same goes with your writing. It is not fun, this last clean up, but it is so necessary. You must read and re-read, you must see it as a whole, see it's parts. You must edit and tweak and get rid of any rubbish that is clogging it up.
Then and only then, can you offer it up.
Ready for all to enjoy.
Vicki
http://vickithornton.weebly.com/
Two fiftieths, a couple of Christmases, one eightieth and just last weekend the biggest affair so far, an engagement party.
Touch wood, all events have gone amazingly well.
This, of course, has meant lots and lots, and lots and lots, of preparation beforehand.
Nobody wakes up one morning and says,' oh 80 or so folks coming tonight, wonder what's in the fridge?'
It requires thought, planning, preparation...and lots of damned hard work!
You plan, hope the weather is perfect (and have a Plan B if not - or if the power goes off like the 80th party).
Usually there is a theme, the engagement was a picnic casual affair. We had rugs on the front lawn (begged, borrowed and stolen), we had a trestle table laid out with yummies, baskets held aeroguard as well as torches...and fairy lights helped create an atmosphere.
The chef at the pizza station was all set up...and raring to go.
Drink station set up, only needed the two cocktails and the non-alcoholic punch and we were almost ready to go. Beer, ciders and soft drinks chilling in the iced eskies.
Of course this was only the surface preparation---beforehand there were many discussions on what, when, who, where.......
Once that was all established there was also the 'fun' aspect of having a function at your place- the cleaning.
A great time was had by all yet none of this could have been achieved without the planning and preparation.
Taking the analogy to writing and we get so excited about the 'fun' stuff. We have a new idea and we race to get it down. We are entranced, delighted, happy. We scribble away, or tap away and.....
Do we then send it out into the world?
Would hope not. Not yet. Even if all the preparation has been done before hand, the research, the understanding of what, when, who and where.... And of course we know the theme (or do we, that's another story entirely).
As we all know, once the party is over, there is still much to do.
The clean up. Washing of dishes, fitting food into the fridge, over loading of rubbish bins. Wandering the house and gardens and wondering how did wine glasses / beer cans / cider cans/ end up there?
Same goes with your writing. It is not fun, this last clean up, but it is so necessary. You must read and re-read, you must see it as a whole, see it's parts. You must edit and tweak and get rid of any rubbish that is clogging it up.
Then and only then, can you offer it up.
Ready for all to enjoy.
Vicki
http://vickithornton.weebly.com/
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