Biscuits and writing have much in common.
Have you ever made biscuits? I don’t mean the store-bought cans you pop open and place on a baking sheet after the oven is preheated. I’m talking dense, from scratch, stick-to-your-ribs biscuits Grandma bakes in her oversized cast iron skillet. Once they’re served smothered in gravy, you can’t get enough.
Writing is like making biscuits. It takes time, effort, and the right ingredients. Not to mention, it’s a sticky mess as you get started. Butter, flour, and buttermilk gain glue-like strength when combined. Likewise, words start as a sloppy mess on a blank page. Either way, you’re going to get your hands dirty if you want everything to come together.
You may wonder why I don’t compare writing to something more pleasant like baking a cake. Ask any kid who’s ever helped Grandma in the kitchen. Cake batter tastes delicious licked from the spoon. Biscuit dough? Not so much. You must fully cook it before it’s any good. Similarly, you must edit your writing thoroughly or it won’t be worth reading. It’s a daunting task, but well worth it.
Don’t worry if your first efforts don’t come out as you intend. It takes practice and patience to make the perfect biscuit, and a great deal more to produce an exceptional manuscript. Get to work, try your best, and enjoy the delectable results.
- For Your Entertainment - January 29, 2024
- Understanding the Power of Words - October 2, 2023
- Story and Character Arcs - August 21, 2023
Wow! Never thought of it like this, but this is so true! Great job, Lisa!
Good comparison Lisa. I like mine with chocolate gravy. The biscuits that is.
A very true comparison! Keep writing, keep baking, even if it’s not perfect every time it’s still very good.
Love the analogy!