Simmering Time

My regular followers may wonder why I haven't been actively working on the book I began writing this spring. I haven't dropped it. It is just under the surface workings of my mind, undergoing some simmering time. A war is going on, pitting my present outline of topical issues expanded in various directions with another structural plan. I have a strong desire to chuck the Type A (strong organizer) tower for another methodology—just a series of essays, much like Kahlil Gibran used in his classic, The Prophet.

I don't know which of these will work best, to get out my message. These days I am coming up with a number of compelling theme statements that could comprise either a collection of essays on deeply felt concerns or a chapter in the tower. The thing I like about the essay method is that the messages drive the writing. In the tower type, there is a structure that needs to be filled in and that drives, at least to some extent, the content of the book. The danger of using the essay method is that I could lose my focus and drift into topics unrelated to my overall vision for the book. Losing focus is, unfortunately (sob, sob), a writing fault of mine, one I am constantly fighting.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Now I know where I need to go next. Once I get these theme statements written or, better yet, the full essays written, it should become clear to me which method serves the book's mission best.

Not forgetting, just simmering,

Margaret