Just before Christmas last year my GG (Great Grandma) died. She was 99. When I was younger she used to make GG buns and Cinnamon buns. Her bread is what my childish mind associated her with. I didn't know her very well. To me, she made (delicious) buns and watched daytime Soaps.
This Christmas, I wanted to bring her to the family in some way so Grandma and I attempted to make GG buns (plain white buns). We succeeded and they were melt-in-your-mouth-utterly-fantastic. And I'm not even just saying that. Every one commented and when dessert, tantalizing and sinfully delicious as always was laid out, a lot of my family decided against that extra cookie or piece of trifle and had another bun instead. (Yeah, they transcend the whole dinner/dessert boundaries.)
The only downside to GG buns? The store bought stuff just doesn't cut it anymore. I used to LOVE the store bought buns (probably cause I hadn't had a GG bun since I was an early teen). Now, they taste bland and flavorless and....sort of empty.
It's a lot like reading.
There are books that are all kind of the same when it comes down to it. There's a uniformity to it all. Different authors and ideas but, really, not that different. You can love these books. Devour them one after another like you'll never read another book again. You get crazy excited when you see there's more for your pleasure.
And then you find it. The original, from scratch, novel that opens your eyes, makes you realize that you've been taking in a lot of emptiness that really didn't taste that good when you compare it to the freshness and flavor infested book you're now holding.
I have a challenge for you all this year.
Make sure your book is "homemade." It's harder. Your muscles will ache from getting out all the kinks, you'll beg to be finished but know you're not. You'll need help. But don't worry, there's a recipe still, there's still a way to get it done - you just have to put more of you into it.
Trust me, your hard work will pay off in the end.
What a striking metaphor. I know exactly what you're talking about. It's so hard to make what you write filling and genuine and wonderful, but it's definetely worth a try.
ReplyDeleteYou are so smurt! That's actually very sound advice.
ReplyDeleteYou know how they say you should write with a reader in mind? This may sound conceited, but I've always been the reader I write for. I'm so picky that when I like the story I figure it must be pretty decent.
Sounds like an idea...
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely try it.
:-)
Nice post. It's like canned veggies and fresh. Takes more time, but the taste is delicious--from scratch.
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy. Yes... our books definitely should be homemade. I agree; the hard work does pay off in the end.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great goal for 2011! I'm putting that on my list :) A homemade book is definitely better.
ReplyDeleteThis was exactly what I had to do for my third novel, and it worked like a charm.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. As far as I'm concerned with my work, it is never done. There are stories I can't look at otherwise I will want to change them.
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational... thank you!
ReplyDeleteA homemade book! What a wonderful idea. I love the comparison. GG buns sound so delicious.
ReplyDeleteWow. I love your comparison. And your challenge is exactly that--a challenge. I will try to make my work truly unique, but it's hard!
ReplyDeletegreat advice. my great g-ma made homemade applesauce cookies... mmmmm!
ReplyDeleteYou call them buns! You MUST be from Canada. Am I right? Am I right? I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd great metaphor!
I love this post. Really well done. And what a great challenge! I'm up for it.
ReplyDeleteFunny how an authentic or superb experience can change your perspective, isn't it? Michael and I went out for dinner New Years to this local fine dining restaurant owned/operated by an extremely talented chef. The meal and service were so amazing, neither of us want to dine out anywhere else. =)
Here's to a great 2011!
Your writing and life comparisons always amaze me. :) I accept your challenge!
ReplyDeleteEek! Great analogy. I wonder if it's possible to write a homemade category romance??? *grin*
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog!
Wow, I love your analogy. I've just finished draft 2 of my homemade book, but your words made me want to re-read till my muscles ache. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's true. Nothing beats homemade.
ReplyDeleteYah, thanks for the comment. A normal person WOULD run.
I LOVE this challenge and what a wonderful way to present it. Now, though, I want some GG buns. Yummy.
ReplyDeleteOh crap - why do I suddenly feel store-bought?
ReplyDeleteI try to do it from scratch but do we have to grind our own flour? LOL. This is a great analogy.
ReplyDeleteAnother delicious foodie analogy! And, yes, when they work out properly (and that's a big caveat here) homemade buns really do transcend traditional boundaries.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing thing to say! What good advice!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could tell if my novel is that melt in your mouth kind of awesome. Never can tell.
BUT Now I want to eat your buns. Hm... I'm gonna not ever say that to anyone again...Bread. I want to eat your bread.
Great analogy...anything worth making is worth making well.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Melissa!
Whoa this is good. So, so good. And so SO true.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your GG, Melissa. (hugs)
That was a pretty great analogy! Thanks for that =)
ReplyDeleteThis is a touching analogy. What a wonderful way to celebrate her life.
ReplyDeleteIn order to write our best we have to put all of our vulnerabilities on the page. Not easy. And the work of editing isn't for the weak.
Woo! I'm glad your buns turned out to be amazing!!!! And that will also make you think of your GG so that's also very wonderful. I love reading too! I just wish I had the time to get my very long reading done. Writing is difficult I think. Just because thoughts are hard to wrangle down and make sense. Some people have a great gift in doing so, good for them. :) some people like me other hand just write to write. Maybe you do too. Either way. I think you are right.
ReplyDelete<3 Ally
Nice analogy! And your GG buns have me drooooling! They sound amazing, especially if people were passing up dessert to have more.
ReplyDeleteI think we're on the same page here. Hope you're having a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great analogy... I love it, it's so true :) A lot of books out there do seem the same. The extra work is always worth the effort though, and at the end of the day, knowing it's something YOU made makes all the difference... especially when it turns out the way you hoped.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad those buns turned out delicious, and I hope you had a wonderful holiday.
Happy New Year! :)
Great post :) I love cooking and I love how it brings people together, too. Food as so much power! AND coincidentally, so do books! Thanks for this post, it was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love this because I can relate on both accounts!!! Once you've made the real stuff you never want to go back! For christmas I made fresh rolls, monkey bread, and cookies and now nothing tastes like it. Too bad it wasn't so time consuming!!!
ReplyDeleteBooks... oh I love the original, the one of a kind, you must tell everyone how good it is book. I live for that feeling!
Ooh, what a challenge Melissa. You and me both have a super duper challenge to make our own GG buns special. But I think we'll totally rock everyone's socks off with our originality.
ReplyDelete