Writing is like knitting needles
Slip one, knit one, yarn forward, slip stitch over the knit one and other stitch, purl one. That creates the pattern for my pullover I’m trying to complete well before the end of winter when I no longer need it for the cold season!
This week I’ve been knitting as compulsory brain rest from writing my book proposal for Hay House with a deadline in a week’s time. I’ve brought that timeline forward to this Saturday morning so I can finally enjoy a weekend off putting pen to paper or typing on the laptop.
But the book writing process has not just been about book structure, story arcs, chapter headings, competitive analysis and chapter samples amongst other things that demand a lot of time and thought.
Writing is simply the knitting needles. With the proposed title of my memoir Follow the Red Thread: The Voice beneath the Weave, I’ve been looking at patterns in my life which have had an impact on who I’ve become and the voice I have or haven’t had.
Each chapter explores such patterns – in the family, generationally, culturally, historically and other “ly’s” which are laid out in front of me with their knit stitches, purl stitches and tricky other stitches making up my life garment.
Seeing the overview of my life from the knitting needles, I have specifically looked at the threads in my lifetime especially the hidden stories, inherited threads and invisible griefs that have made up my world to date. These are themes that many women carry, so this memoir is not about me, but more about you recognising your own patterns and the awesomeness of your own unique weave.
The metaphor I use in the book is the harakeke (flax) basket and the making of what we carry and what we choose to no longer carry moving forward. Legacy in the making. This means a good look at the weave and the weft, the strong threads, the ones that are frayed, the basket that has been shaped, and the one we choose to carry or mend differently.
Who would have thought that remembering 5.30pm dinners in grand detail would pull out threads and weaver a chapter called The Girl Who Learned to Fold Herself Neatly.
Or the chapter on the Tender Shoot: Learning How to Need - talking about burrowing under the blankets to avoid school while craving maternal care.
And my favourite chapter to date - The Pink Bloodlines and the White Ribbon prompted by watching a local show the other night in honour of Kate Sheppard. This speaks of our 5 generational pattern of sexual violence, baby loss and justice.
Wow. I can’t wait to read my own book. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, back to slip one, knit one, yarn forward, slip stitch over the knit one and other stitch, purl
Also last week Stories that Touch the Heart - published by Emily Gowor got launched with my chapter inside!
