Composing with words
Baths, musicality, and nature art
Small talk
Hello, how’s the fam? This week I found a lil’ writing family at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency’s Cape Cod conference. Critiquing each other’s work on the beach, listening to amazing speakers, and bonding with best friends…what a dream. And to top it all off, this is what I spotted from the airplane on my way back home.
The future is bright, my friends.
Book bite
Experience the ritual of prepping, soaking, and connecting in THE BIG BATH HOUSE. I didn’t grow up with family traditions, but Kyo Maclear includes me in one family’s special tradition with an inviting second person point of view. I love how Gracey Zhang’s energetic line and sweeping paint strokes celebrate all bodies, “your newly sprouting, gangly bodies, your saggy, shapely, jiggly bodies, your cozy, creased, ancient bodies. Beautiful bodies.” Read my full review here.
Creative nugget
In author-illustrator Carter Higgin’s Storyteller Academy class, she talks about composing a story with words like composing a song with notes. She recommends asking yourself “How does it sound?” as you write and revise.
I applied her advice when revising a story with a snake character and discovered a whole new layer of character development. By playing with “s” sounds, I could offer hints about the snake before she arrives. I could build tension by combining those “s” sounds with harsh “k” sounds in interesting ways. I could play with assonance (repeating the same vowel sounds in neighboring words) and alliteration (repeating the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words) to create a rhythm and pace for the story. I also improved the read aloud experience.
It’s story sound design, and I love it!
How have you used sound to improve your stories?
Bring your own juice box
B.Y.O.J.B. is that special moment when you trade your dad’s famous chocolate chip cookies for your favorite fruit snacks.
This week I’m offering you a podcast I’ve been listening to recently called DEAD EYES. Twenty years ago, an actor-comedian was fired from a small acting role by TOM HANKS for having “dead eyes" and now he wants to know why. It’s quirky and interesting and a really good podcast for those who work in a creative industry and face lots of rejection (mostly for things out of your own control).
Whachu got?
Brownie points
Create some nature art! Watch me create weird face art out of rocks and leaves or learn how to make your own.
Join my guess who’s wearing these slippers illustration game on Instagram or Twitter. The clue is in the accessory…
Is anyone missing from the table today? Invite them to the creative feast!
Thanks for stopping by. I’ll save you a spot next week AT THE KIDS TABLE.
See you then,
Rachel
Love how you've played with S sounds and K sounds to add read-ability to your story! This is one of my revision weaknesses, I think. I tend to lean on alliteration and onomatopoeia and rhythm, versus using consonance and the like. Something I need to try more!