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How Writing is like Cabbage

October 24, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 12 Comments

Sometimes writing is like cabbage. Yes, cabbage. I’m about to explain the odd connection, and how two seemingly unrelated things can be so alike.

how writing is like cabbage

1) Some people love cabbage. Some people don’t. Maybe they want to like it because of the health benefits, but will eat cabbage only if they are super hungry. When they do try it, they sorta like it, but cabbage will never be their go-to dish. Even my cabbage, the dish I know is delicious, is just not their thing. They prefer something completely different. Same goes for my writing. Everyone will not like my writing every day. And that’s okay.

2.) Some days I don’t even like cabbage. Some days it stinks up the whole house. No matter how much time I spend or how much care I take adding the right combination of spices and flavors, the dish simply doesn’t taste right even to me, a lover of vegetables, a lover of cabbage. This typically happens on a recipe I felt certain would be primo. These dishes keep me honest and grounded and serve as a reminder that sometimes my cooking isn’t all that good. Failure happens. Sometimes my writing isn’t all that good either. Writing takes practice, just like cooking, like anything worth doing. Writing and cooking are both unpredictable endeavors.

3.) Other days I quickly chop the head of cabbage, toss it in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and it turns out perfectly, invoking the smells of Momma’s kitchen and a simpler time. The cabbage sings. Everyone clamors for it, even though it was an afterthought. When this happens with a piece of writing, people relate, feel what I feel, engage with me. 

Certain stories hit the mark. I can’t predict or plot or  write to the occasion. My best plan is keeping it simple and being myself.

See this cabbage picture?

how cabbage is like writing and my favorite cabbage recipe

 

This picture surprisingly hit the mark when I posted it on my Grace Grits and Gardening Facebook page less twelve days ago. As of today, the photo has reached an audience of 40,400 people and received 2.2K likes, comments and shares. Who would have thunk it?

Apparently people relate to cabbage? And sometimes, when I’m really lucky, my writing.

Roasted Cabbage Steak Recipe

Thinly slice a head of cabbage.

Drizzle with olive oil.

Sprinkle cayenne, sea salt and pepper.

Roast @400 degrees for 15 minutes of so.

Grace Grits and Gardening

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MIke and Molly

Instead of a musical pairing, here’s an excerpt from the sitcom Mike & Molly. If you don’t watch this show, you are missing hilarious, old-fashioned entertainment. In Season 4, Molly decides to leave her thirty year teaching job to write a book…(I can relate.)

What Molly Hath Wrought

(Late at night, Molly sits at the kitchen table reviewing her manuscript.)

Molly: Oh, God. (Sighs) Oh, God, why did I think I could write a book? Ooh! This is bad. Ooh, this is really bad. Oh. Ooh, that sucks. (Turning page of manuscript.) That sucks. (Turning next page.) Oh it still sucks. (Next page.) Still sucks! You know what? (Marking out sections with great fanfare.) I’ll do that and that. Yeah! Yeah!
Mike: What are you doing up so late?
Molly: I’m working on my book. (She sets it on fire.)
Mike: Okay. I take it you’re not happy with it.
Molly: Is that why you’re a cop? ‘Cause nothing fools you. Ooh.
Mike: Can’t be that bad.
Molly: It’s horrible, and I did everything, exactly what the guy told me to do in the How to Write Your Book book.

 

Filed Under: Food & Recipes, Humor, Writing Tagged With: food and writing, writing tips

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Comments

  1. Barbara Tate says

    October 24, 2014 at 9:59 am

    I bought a cabbage this week to fix that “cabbage picture”. Haven’t fixed it yet, and now I am off on an adventure. Yay. Enjoyed the read. I like cabbage!

    Reply
  2. Colene and Tom says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:35 am

    We like cabbage! It always stinks the house up, doesn’t it? We like all of your blogs but sometimes it does really ‘hit the mark’ when we can relate to the subject. 40,400 views..wow! It isn’t luck girl! You have many talents and lots of determination and a good business head on your shoulders.

    Reply
  3. Renee says

    October 24, 2014 at 3:31 pm

    Hitting the nail on the head lady, sometimes we got it, sometimes we don ‘t. Such is life and you spot light it perfectly, thanks!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 25, 2014 at 7:29 am

      Thanks Renee. “Such is life” is right:))

      Reply
  4. Linda Gardner says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    Talya I’ve noticed you use sea salt most of the time, any special reason ?? I’m ashamed to say I’ve never used it.. But I like cabbage anyway it’s fixed…

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 25, 2014 at 7:37 am

      I like the texture and coarseness of sea salt better than table salt. Sea salt is produced from evaporation of ocean water or saltwater lakes. This involves very little processing which leaves behind minerals, flavor, color and a courser texture. Table salt is produced from underground salt mines. Most minerals are removed during this process yet iodine is added which does help with thyroid health. So it’s really just a personal preference rather than a health issue. Of course, best to use either in moderation:))

      Reply
  5. Bodynsoil says

    October 25, 2014 at 6:22 am

    Oh how I love cooked cabbage.. I can see why your photo got such a strong response.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 25, 2014 at 7:39 am

      Thank you! I love it too:)

      Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 26, 2014 at 6:19 pm

      Thank you:) You just never know.

      Reply
  6. vishalbheeroo says

    October 26, 2014 at 1:04 am

    Love the connection between writing and cabbage. What a creative way to put it? We’ve gone cabbage today and editing needed:) Super love it.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 26, 2014 at 6:20 pm

      Thank you so much. I’m happy you appreciated my strange connection:)

      Reply
  7. Marcie says

    October 28, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    I love the comparing writing to cabbage. One of my favorite foods is corn beef and cabbage.Writing is something I keep working on as sometimes I hit mark and attract readers and some times its a struggle.

    Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

Click to BUY NOW!

Talya Tate Boerner books
Gene, Everywhere

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