“Whisking Words: How a Baking Competition Unlocked My Secret to Captivating Writing”
Have you ever found yourself sitting in front of a blank page, battling a mix of frustration and self-doubt? It’s a familiar dance—one moment, you’re brimming with ideas and the next, you’re paralyzed by the weight of expectation. In these moments, I’ve discovered that stepping away from the keyboard and diving into a different creative outlet can spark unexpected revelations. For me, that outlet was Thanksgiving baking, inspired by the enticing challenges presented in The Great British Baking Show. As I mixed my dough and balanced the delicate art of pie-making, I stumbled upon insights that not only transformed my crust but also reinvigorated my writing. Discover how lessons learned in the kitchen can apply to the writing process, helping you push past those daunting blocks and into a world of creativity! LEARN MORE.
When I couldn’t write, I channeled the show as I made Thanksgiving pies
It would be wrong to say I had writer’s block. I was writing, but my draft wouldn’t cohere. So I went downstairs to mix the dough for two Thanksgiving pies. I measured out the flour, cut in the shortening, and added the vinegar and water. But much like my essay, the dough wasn’t coming together.
To make the dough workable, I had to add water. But too much water can make a pie crust tough. I also worried about the dreaded “soggy bottom.” The judges of The Great British Baking Show (GBBS), currently Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, like to terrify contestants with the specter of a bottom crust turning to mush, a situation I knew I was risking by using frozen berries in one of my pies.
My anxiety was taking the fun out of baking. I was just as anxious about my writing. I had two options: give up on the pies and the essay, or learn to use my anxiety productively.
Having watched seven and a half seasons of the GBBS, and with the last episode of the current season fresh in my mind, I realized I’d learned a few things about baking that also applied to writing.
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