You Have to Crawl before You Run: Tarts and the Craft of Writing

Ohau 2011

So what the heck to tarts, a crawling baby, and writing have to do with each other? You fall a lot, you try different things, sometimes you cry, eventually you stand up and take your first steps, then you run.  

Asparagus and Mushroom Tart

I love to cook. I love trying to master new recipes and different cooking techniques. This is a picture of my first tart. I didn't own a tart pan, and had to make do with what I had. It tasted okay, but the crust was wrong. This tart asparagus and mushroom tart was dense and tasteless, with too much cream, and too much sharp cheddar. I know that learning to make a good tart is going to take time, practice and analysis of what works, and what does not.  

Walking,  making a good tart, and writing a good story, take practice, experimentation, and time. 

The way to become proficient at walking is to keep standing up and taking steps, the way to become a good cook is to keep cooking, and the way to becoming a good writer is to keep writing. 

I did not become a good cook over night. I started cooking when I was fourteen. Over the last forty years I have studied, taken cooking classes, watched cooking shows, experimented, and kept cooking. I have had my share of kitchen disasters, but I never stopped cooking. 

 Leaning to write is like learning to walk, and learning to cook. You just have to keep practicing.

 Take your time.  Write everyday. Write for yourself. Try different things. Practice. Submit a manuscript. Deal with rejection. Keep writing.