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It’s the start of a new month. That means it’s time for another group posting for the IWSG – you can learn more about the group by clicking on the badge below.

7 November IWSG Day Question: How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

Fun question! I started sewing. I knit a bit too – but don’t expect more than a couple of scarfs! Sewing, though… There’s just something magical about taking a piece of cloth and turning it into a flowing creation.

There’s a lot to learn about writing from sewing.

Step one: select your project.

Sewing: This includes selecting the pattern, the fabric, the thread, etc. Will it be casual or formal wear? Is it for yourself or someone else?

Writing: length, genre, intended audience. What do you want to write about? Are you going to draft with pen and paper or with a word processor?

Step two: plan your project.

Sewing: size of dress to make – fabric length, amount of thread needed, etc. Is the sewing machine working? Are all the pins sharp? Is the right size needle in the machine? Are the scissors sharp?

Writing: plotting the story (intro, initiating incident, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement, conclusion – or whatever you call the different phases) and creating the characters (backstory, likes and dislikes, etc.).

Step three: start cutting.

Sewing: pin the pattern pieces to the fabric, cut it out.

Writing: you’ve set the course of your story – so start drafting.

Step four: put it together.

Sewing: pinning the pieces together, sewing them together.

Writing: revise for flow and consistency – making the story work as a whole.

Step five: making it work.

Sewing: trim edges, overlock/serge seams.

Writing: revise for clarity – cut your darlings.

Step six: polish.

Sewing: finish hems, add zips and hooks, remove all dangling threads.

Writing: proofread for overused words, consistency in spelling names/places, typos.

Step seven: inspect.

Sewing: final fitting of garment. Make sure everything is as it should be.

Writing: final read-through. Make sure the story is what it should be.

Step eight: finish.

Sewing: send the garment to the washing machine. Clean the sewing machine. Throw away everything that cannot be used again – pack away everything else. Cast-off fabric can be used for something else.

Writing: send the story to beta readers. Pack away all notes, etc. The cut pieces can be used in a different story.

This is a simplified view of the process, but it’s good to keep in mind when it feels like you’re losing yourself in a labyrinth of writing and rewriting. (Especially during NaNoWriMo! Who else is putting writing in the forefront this month?)

I’ve finished a couple of sewing projects during my “vacation” last month – more like forced rest. Though I resented it at the time, I do feel better and am on a roll with my NaNo projects.

I’ll add pics to Instagram on Saturday evening with me in the awesome dress I made for the INK Gala evening. We’ll see if anything comes from attending this year… (Last year I won the writing/publishing competition that set the course for getting “Eens…”/ “Once…” published. I even got a great review for “Once…” last week.)

That’s it for this year. December I’ll be on a real holiday – sun, swimming pool, fun! I’ll post again for the IWSG in January.

I hope you’ve found the parallels between sewing and writing fun and informative.

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