"I am writing in the garden. To write as one should of a garden one must write not outside it or merely somewhere near it, but in the garden." -Frances Hodgson Burnett
I thought this quote by Frances Hodgson Burnett was a meaningful quote on the subject of writing. I also saw a connection with it to our readings from our text.
I see this quote as having two different directions you could look at it. The first being from the advising perspective of Burnett. She is telling the reader, the reader being a potential writer, to really dig in to what they are writing. The quote is expressing the importance of not just going half way and scooting around the outside, but to instead write from the inside. It could also be saying that you should chose to write about things you can relate to or have experienced so that the writing is firsthand and in turn more wholesome and realistic. It is not limiting to exclusively writing about familiar topics though. The quote advises you to put yourself in the place of the writing while doing so. This quote is similar to the quote "Put yourself in someone elses shoes."
The second approach this quote portrays is the act of practicing. Frances Hodgson Burnett then practices what she preached and does a good job of writing to the audience. In this case, I see the audience as the garden. In terms of argument, the only place I could see it occurring is with the fact that you sometimes have to write about things that you have not experienced or have any knowledge on. Then the question might come up, how do I write as if I were in that situation? You then should think of the purpose of the quote. It is simply about advising and practicing.
In our text, we read that "sometimes the strangest characteristics bring out the best strategies." Some might find an analogy of a garden as a strange example, but it is a general thing that everyone is aware of and can put their minds in that place. Therefore, I think this quote really can get across to the audience.
I see this quote as having two different directions you could look at it. The first being from the advising perspective of Burnett. She is telling the reader, the reader being a potential writer, to really dig in to what they are writing. The quote is expressing the importance of not just going half way and scooting around the outside, but to instead write from the inside. It could also be saying that you should chose to write about things you can relate to or have experienced so that the writing is firsthand and in turn more wholesome and realistic. It is not limiting to exclusively writing about familiar topics though. The quote advises you to put yourself in the place of the writing while doing so. This quote is similar to the quote "Put yourself in someone elses shoes."
The second approach this quote portrays is the act of practicing. Frances Hodgson Burnett then practices what she preached and does a good job of writing to the audience. In this case, I see the audience as the garden. In terms of argument, the only place I could see it occurring is with the fact that you sometimes have to write about things that you have not experienced or have any knowledge on. Then the question might come up, how do I write as if I were in that situation? You then should think of the purpose of the quote. It is simply about advising and practicing.
In our text, we read that "sometimes the strangest characteristics bring out the best strategies." Some might find an analogy of a garden as a strange example, but it is a general thing that everyone is aware of and can put their minds in that place. Therefore, I think this quote really can get across to the audience.
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