One Good Paragraph
Sometimes, we writers churn out a sentence, paragraph, or passage that we particular like or that strikes us a certain way. That happened to me yesterday and I thought, I like that! I think I'll share it! … Then, Maybe we should all consider sharing more snippets of our work to the wider world.
I'll keep this short and sweet. Yesterday, I wrote the paragraph that can be found below. It's a short passage setting the stage for scene #102 of my work-in-progress novel, Saeculum. Is it perfect? No. Will I change it later? Undoubtedly. But here it is. No context, just the words …
Sunlight streamed from a series of louvered ventilation panels set among the arching rafters on both sides of the barn illuminating the floor of the otherwise dim interior, the beams given body by an atmosphere pregnant with hovering dust. Solita imagined that if she stepped into one of those slanting columns of light she just might be drawn aloft and into the heavens and away from all this madness.
After I wrote it, and with very little editing, I shared it with one of my critique groups. It felt good. And, then I thought, Why don't I do this more often? At the end of any day of writing, maybe just select One Good Paragraph … and then share it! Primarily with my brothers and sisters of the pen, but also perhaps shared on social media (for example, via my more writerly Mastodon account).
I'd be curious if any of you, dear readers, regularly share snippets of prose—prose representing little teases and milestones marking the progress you've made. If so, send me a note: todd AT toddwarner DOT io. Heck, send me your paragraphs.
Good is, of course, relative. What's good about the exercise is the process. We need to share more. Be bold. And be more comfortable with sharing our imperfections.
Cheers. -t
#OGP #1GP