by Petra Sando

Created on: February 18, 2008   Last Updated: February 19, 2008

Seeds of greatness - gardening as a metaphor for writing

You create a work of art - a book. It takes some work to make it happen. You use a variety of tools and resources to make it a success. You may have even heard before, that something needs to "grow on you". Sometimes that thing is a story, an article or a poem. To use the process of gardening metaphorically and interchangeably with writing is quite beautiful and very fitting!

CREATING A GARDEN (OF KNOWLEDGE):
In gardening, you have to select the perfect spot for your plant, provide nutrient-rich soil, choose the right season and temperature and watch for the appropriate weather, to plant something. Likewise, you will need an appropriate atmosphere, a certain state of mind and environment to plant your seeds of greatness when writing.

PREPARING THE GROUND (FOR YOUR MASTERPIECE):
You have to prepare the earth for planting by using diverse gardening tools. Likewise, before writing your masterpiece you have to prepare by using tools like books, the Internet and various other sources to research the topic you want to write about. You also have to make yourself comfortable with either paper and pencil or a computer.

QUALITY COUNTS!
You always want to use only the best seed for your garden, a seed that is of us such good quality, that it will bring forth a magnificent flower or an abundant harvest. A seed that will produce more seeds in the long run. In writing, the topic you choose is of greatest importance. Sometimes you pick it voluntarily just like you buy or collect seeds of a plant. Sometimes, however, you just stumble over it somewhere, yes, you might not even be aware where it got a hold of you . But you know it's worth growing, and it will grow into a wonderful work of art.

THE CARING, WATERING AND FEEDING (OF YOUR "GARDEN" OF IDEAS):
After your seed has been planted, like an idea, that has manifested in your mind, you tend to it every day as well as you can , watering it and feeding it with the best plant food available. With writing it is just the same; you keep adding your thoughts and some extra passion on the paper as you go along, nurturing your idea, and you stay with it, making it grow into an awesome masterpiece.

HARVESTING THE FRUIT OF YOUR (LITERARY) WORK:
Once your beautiful plant is fully grown or your harvest ready to reap, you bring it to the markets of the world, to meet the people who admire the work you have done, and who want to acquire it for themselves, to benefit from the beauty or the nutrition it brings. Likewise, when your book is finished, you publish it in all its glory, so that other people can enjoy it, be touched by it and benefit from it .

ACCOMPLISHMENT AND RENEWAL (NEW IDEAS SPRING UP):
Lastly, you sit back to examine your accomplishment. You smile and - watch others sprout their own seeds of greatness from the very thoughts you planted in their heads, minds and hearts.

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