C. R. Downing’s booklet Idea Farming (A Science Guy’s Read In Writing, Volume 1) is the perfect introduction of the nuts and bolts of starting a short story, novella or novel. Downing utilizes his teaching experience and award-winning book series, Traveler’s Hot L, as examples on how to author stories.
Being primarily a poet, I found attempts to branch out and write longer prose that involved my readers having to turn pages, slightly daunting. However, reading Downing’s Idea Farming, which uses the metaphor of writing with gardening, defined the process so that even a city gal like me could understand and easily utilize his method.
For example, he explains to successfully grow plants, The LAW is needed (ample Light, Air and Water); to write a story the following is needed: believable characters, reasonable plot points, and realistic dialog (BC, RPP, RD). He then breaks down each of those points i.e.: fertilizing (right amount of Phosphate=needed for root health, aka moments in the story where plot shines brightly, or nitrogen=capturing energy stored for photosynthesis, aka believability in every aspect of the plot).
Downing outlines the differences between short story, novella and novel using the metaphor of short stories or novellas as herbaceous plants - only lasts 1-2 years, shorter, more colorful plants, and “projects a specific feel.” Novels are Perennials, wood stemmed plants (oak trees and rose bushes), as they are tougher, taller and can handle more complex, longer plot points, and more sophisticated characters. Novels are worthy of more commitment from the reader, both in time and feelings for well-developed characters, and intrigue in the story (“I just can’t put this book down”). Even Chapter 8, “Mega Farming – the Book Series” seems a bit more graspable for a writer like me.
He includes inspirational selections such as Heinlein’s Five Rules of Writing, as well as his favorite editor’s information, and as any good writer who is concerned about his audience, asks his readers to connect him on twitter, Facebook, his blog or website. This ties back to his section, “Pray for Bees.” Bees are feedback, and without the bees sharing and pollinating the word, the world would be gray and devoid of stories. Start planting your story today.
