This short piece below was written last night during a writing workshop with Molly who writes the blog Orangette and Matthew from Roots and grubs. More details in a sec…
***
The moment I saw Matthew open a plastic container filled with red stuff in it called “kimchi”, a smell of dirty socks filled up the room. I wondered, has someone taken their shoes off – it’s been a long day after all – or is this what kimchi actually smells like? I never had kimchi before and I try to resist the urge to ask my neighbors at the table if they had eaten kimchi or know what is, but the stench of moldy socks terrifies me and I decide to play it safe.
“Have you ever had kimchi?”, I ask the woman who sits next to me. “Yes!”, Diana replies with a spark in her eyes and a big smile. “What is it? What’s in it?”, I hear myself asking. I consider myself an adventurous eater and hearing myself asking all these questions surprises me. I postpone the moment of tasting it by writing down the dialogue that goes on in my head.
I lift the fork with a cube of a pickled veggie stabbed on it, it’s covered with red matter, and I bring it closer to my nose. “Hmm, it actually smells good. Fresh and vibrant”, my brain tells me. I touch the kimchi with the tip of my tongue recalling vaguely something that someone once said about kimchi being hot and spicy. “Hmm, not so bad”, I think. I take another tiny bite and feel pleasantly surprised.
It’s almost 9 PM; it’s been a long day and I’m tired but each part in my mouth that has touched the kimchi is being brought back to life. I should take another bite.
***
This is when I had to stop because time was up.
You might still not know what kimchi is from my description so, well, you’ll have to do your own research, or check out this post on Matthew’s blog.
But why am I telling you about this? Because I share with you my experiences with food photography, the workshops, my learning curve, the tips and tricks I learned. I am also taking writing workshops and I wanted to share this one with you as well.
I never planned to write. I disliked the writing class I had to take in high school as well as the literature one. I had no patience for reading books and analyzing what the author meant to say back then. I had more urgent things to do at 17. I think my final scores in those classes were around the 70 +/- (out of 100). I now wish I listened better.
I did get better with writing essays and research articles when I was a student and a research assistant, but this kind of writing is different than academic writing. I have a lot to learn. I need a lot of practice. I don’t know how good or bad, interesting or boring I am. I’m trying to find out.
(Hint hint: Your feedback will be greatly appreciated!!!)
Do you write? Do you struggle with it or does it come easy to you?
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8 Comments
Rachel (Hounds in the Kitchen)
March 10th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I too struggle with creative writing. I feel like I can write a recipe with the best of them, but non-technical pieces make me struggle. You are right that practice will help us both.
Rachel (Hounds in the Kitchen)´s last blog ..What’s Left in the Larder
MaryMoh
March 10th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Ooooh….I love kimchi. It’s very healthy and I made it often. As for writing, I think it is just like talking to a friend. If you can see it that way, you will feel very comfortable in writing. People who read your blog want to feel connected with you. Don’t worry about all the technicalities. Write what you know and interest you. Write in your own voice and uniqueness. That’s what make you special. That’s just my opinion.
MaryMoh´s last blog ..Juicy Prawns Omelette
lo
March 10th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
I very much enjoy the process of writing. For me, it’s much like the creative process employed in creating a new recipe. It’s about taking the time to pay attention to everything around you — tasting, smelling, adjusting the recipe to your taste. It’s about sharing your experience with the world. On a lot of levels, writing comes naturally to me (it’s always been a part of me, and it has almost a therapeutic nature to it) — it’s really more the technical end that plagues me. My photography is the piece that could really use work! I have a passion for blogging, which is what keeps me going. But, practice is definitely a part of the whole process!
As for kimchi… smelly, yes. But, it’s SO GOOD!
lo´s last blog ..How We Spent Our Sunday: Rockabilly Chili Cookoff
Simone (junglefrog)
March 10th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Funny enough; I began with writing before I took photos.. I used to write whole novels and started writing when I was about 6 or 7 I believe (obviously those were stories with fabulous titles such as “Simone and Ineke in the jungle” lol… I have loads of imagination but I do find writing a blog difficult sometimes as it is not fiction but actual fact. And facts are sometimes not as exciting as fiction..
Having said all that I like what you wrote although I do think it needs some work here and there. I like the references to – for instance – smelly socks, so I immediately have an idea of the smell that you’re experiencing and I really like that. But in some sentences it feels just a tiny bit too well thought out. (which makes sense if you wrote it in a class..lol) Do you know what I mean? I obviously mean this as positive criticism so don’t take it the wrong way. I already love how you write anyway; as that is the reason I started reading your blog in the first place!
Simone (junglefrog)´s last blog ..Cooking course is back!!
Amanda
March 10th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Well, I think you are a WONDERFUL writer. I was completely hooked and ready to read more!!
Blessings-
Amanda
Tamar
March 11th, 2010 at 7:01 am
Simone is right… some of your sentences sounds too thought out and planned. Other sentences are truly heart felt. Like anything, practice practice practice…
FYI, I was so terrible at writing in school they wanted to hold me back a from 2rd grade. My current style is technical because of my science background.
Katrina
March 11th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I honestly adore your writing. I’m a writer myself (in my spare time) and know how you feel. Sometimes the words just don’t want to put to paper and other times you can’t stop them from pouring out of your pne (or keyboard, whatever the case may be). Just keep on, Nurit!
Katrina´s last blog ..Bon Voyage Honey Mim!
Nate @ House of Annie
March 18th, 2010 at 8:03 am
I have trouble being a “personable” writer. I self-edit every single sentence and paragraph, trying to be more informative than relational. For me, it takes a lot to get the creative writing juices flowing. I don’t see it as my strength.
However Annie is very much a relational writer and she finds it easy to write personally. She writes in a conversational style and she can pound a post out in 15 minutes without stopping to think.
I think that we complement each other and that’s part of what makes our blog interesting.
Nate @ House of Annie´s last blog ..Belacan Fried Chicken