- Gardening is hard work. So is writing. Those who do neither think both are easy. The rest of us know better. Both involve continuous learning and a huge amount of trial and error.
- Gardening sometimes means showing up outside when the weather is bad and you'd rather write. Writing sometimes means showing up at the keyboard when the weather is nice and you'd rather garden.
- Trends come and go. In gardening and in writing. Trends can teach us and inspire us (they might even get us published if we show up with the right book at the right time) but they shouldn't divert us from growing our own special garden or writing our own unique book.
- My garden is mine and no one can tell me what to grow. They can make suggestions and I might even listen. Especially to my husband and my kids. My book is mine and no one can tell me what belongs there. They can make suggestions and I might even listen. Especially to my editor and my agent.
- Intent is everything. When I sow a seed or dig in a plant, I don't stop to think about whether it will grow. I assume it will and it usually does. When I sit down to write, I don't stop to think about whether the words will add up to a book. Amazingly, they usually do.
- Sometimes manure happens. Some years my basil gets wiped out by a fungus, other years I'm giving it away by the armful. Sometimes there's drought, other times hungry bugs. Sometimes publishing houses close, print runs are dismal and editors make disastrous mistakes by refusing my manuscripts. But things inevitably change. With time, even manure turns into compost.
- Weeding is necessary. So are revisions. And both can be fun.
- Gardens are never really finished. Neither are books. There's always something you could improve or do differently. But there's always next year. And there's always another book.
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