The Tapestry of Writing
I was
talking to a friend the other day and he likened writing a story to weaving.
This is a quote from Wikipedia about weaving a tapestry:
“Tapestry is a form of textile
art, woven on a vertical loom. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running
parallel to the length (called the warp) and those parallel to the width (called the weft); the warp threads are set up under tension on a loom, and the
weft thread is passed back and forth across part or all of the warps. Tapestry
is weft-faced weaving, in which all the warp threads are
hidden in the completed work, unlike cloth weaving where both the warp and the
weft threads may be visible. In tapestry weaving, weft yarns are typically
discontinuous; the artisan interlaces each coloured weft back and forth in its
own small pattern area. It is a plain weft-faced weave having weft threads of
different colours worked over portions of the warp to form the design.”
The framework When
writing historical Fiction first we set up a framework or story plan, these are
the parameters, the timeframe or era, the beginning and end.
The warp comes next, with a more detailed outline of where the story is going to, character
descriptions and their relationships and historical facts gleaned through research
to base the novel on, all of which will be almost hidden once the story is
complete.
The creative weft of the story After this careful preparation it is time to add the colourful
storyline and allow our imagination to take over. Our story weaves through our
plan and the bare bones of our characters and research, bringing them to
life. Each section is painstakingly crafted, including detailed accounts of
each scene. Each strand of colour is significant, however short.
Tying up loose ends, editing
and proof reading Mind you, I would like to add
another step to this analogy because the weaver always works from the back,
tying up any loose threads and beginning new colours so that the joins are
invisible. The weaver always makes sure that there is just the correct amount
of tension. Too little and the tapestry will be disjointed and may show holes
but too much and the final picture will be buckled and spoilt.
When the weaver has completed
the final thread of his work, he or she makes sure that all loose ends are
secure and as neatly trimmed as
possible. It is only at that point when the author believes that he or
she has reached as near to perfection as possible that the work is turned over
to reveal the whole picture for the very first time and it’s ready for the
reader.
Waiting with a mixture of
excitement and nervousness for the reviews Novels,
like artwork are then critically appraised.
Interestingly my mind leapt at
this point to the idiom:
To spin a yarn
“Tell a story, especially a long drawn-out or totally
fanciful one, as in This author really knows how to spin a yarn, or Whenever
he's late he spins some yarn about a crisis. Originally a nautical term dating
from about 1800, this expression probably owes its life to the fact that it
embodies a double meaning, yarn signifying both "spun fibre"
and "a tale."
So there you have it. From the
initial planning stages through to writing, proof reading, editing and finally
revealing the published novel to an appreciative audience; I wish you good
fortune in weaving your masterpiece.
Does anyone know any more
interesting analogies?
Diana Jackson writes historical fiction
and has brought out two books in the Riduna series, ‘Riduna’ and ‘Ancasta Guide
me Swiftly Home,’ based mainly in the Channel Islands including Alderney and
Guernsey and back on the mainland in Southampton between 1865 and 1920.
This is the second post in
Diana Jackson’s
Weekend Blog Tour.
You can find details and more of her ‘Muse,
Reviews and News’ on her blog: www.dianamj.wordpress.com
No comments:
Post a Comment