Award-winning science poet Leslie Bulion had this to say:
Nonfiction authors often describe their research process and their writing process, but we don’t usually hear about what comes in between, so I asked Leslie if I could interview her to explore the details of her pre-writing process. Luckily, she said yes.
MS: What’s your first step when you begin a new book?
LB: Each of my science
poetry collections starts with one big idea. For example, the big idea for my
next book, Leaf Litter Critters
(coming in 2018), was to take readers on a tour through what scientists call
the “brown food web.” So I needed to learn how the critter-eat-critter world of
Earth’s busy decomposer-recyclers works.
LB: Each of my science
poetry collections starts with one big idea. For example, the big idea for my
next book, Leaf Litter Critters
(coming in 2018), was to take readers on a tour through what scientists call
the “brown food web.” So I needed to learn how the critter-eat-critter world of
Earth’s busy decomposer-recyclers works.
I
began my research by reading widely about soil and leaf litter communities.
When I had a basic understanding of the topic, I returned to the readings I’d
found most helpful, and took notes about the many organisms and their brown
food web jobs—i.e. which critters start the process (primary decomposers) and
how each paves the way for the next level of decomposers to move in and get to
work.
began my research by reading widely about soil and leaf litter communities.
When I had a basic understanding of the topic, I returned to the readings I’d
found most helpful, and took notes about the many organisms and their brown
food web jobs—i.e. which critters start the process (primary decomposers) and
how each paves the way for the next level of decomposers to move in and get to
work.
Using
those notes, I made a list of critters I wanted to write poems about. My
choices needed to represent all levels and interactions in the brown food web,
and a mix of familiar critters and those that readers may not have met…yet…
those notes, I made a list of critters I wanted to write poems about. My
choices needed to represent all levels and interactions in the brown food web,
and a mix of familiar critters and those that readers may not have met…yet…
MS: Can you
tell us about one of the critters on that list?
tell us about one of the critters on that list?
LB: Here’s a fun
example: the nematode. Since I was interested in how these (mostly) microscopic
roundworms fit into the brown food web, I researched where they live, what they
eat and what eats them. I found
information in books and scientific articles. I also watched videos and
observed nematodes flipping around in soil and water samples under my own
microscope. I took LOTS of notes.
example: the nematode. Since I was interested in how these (mostly) microscopic
roundworms fit into the brown food web, I researched where they live, what they
eat and what eats them. I found
information in books and scientific articles. I also watched videos and
observed nematodes flipping around in soil and water samples under my own
microscope. I took LOTS of notes.
Here
are my nematode notes from Life in the
Soil by James B. Nardi (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2007):
are my nematode notes from Life in the
Soil by James B. Nardi (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2007):
–“Nematodes
graze on bacteria and fungi. They are predators, omnivores, plant feeders
(those have stylets). They live in soil water films, or within roots- those are
parasitic.
graze on bacteria and fungi. They are predators, omnivores, plant feeders
(those have stylets). They live in soil water films, or within roots- those are
parasitic.
–Every
kind of soil.
kind of soil.
–Go
dormant in hot dry conditions.
dormant in hot dry conditions.
–Nitrogen
cyclers.
cyclers.
–Different
mouth structures.
mouth structures.
–Bacteria
eaters have lots of lips, narrow mouth, vacuum from soil pores.
eaters have lots of lips, narrow mouth, vacuum from soil pores.
–Root
feeders—piercing spears ram into roots to tap plant.
feeders—piercing spears ram into roots to tap plant.
–Gulp
with a muscular esophagus.
with a muscular esophagus.
–Springtails
eat them, so do tardigrades and mites.
eat them, so do tardigrades and mites.
–Larger
nematodes predators of nematodes, tardigrades, rotifers, protozoa—lips (up to
6) grinding plates just inside.
nematodes predators of nematodes, tardigrades, rotifers, protozoa—lips (up to
6) grinding plates just inside.
–Fungus
traps nematodes with a noose—strangler fungi!
traps nematodes with a noose—strangler fungi!
–Some
fungi have sticky spores that latch onto nematodes—fungal hyphae fill the
nematode and digest its contents.
fungi have sticky spores that latch onto nematodes—fungal hyphae fill the
nematode and digest its contents.
—
Some fungi produce pheromone and work like flypaper for nematodes and
rotifers.”
Some fungi produce pheromone and work like flypaper for nematodes and
rotifers.”
Here
are my notes from the video “Nematode Movement,” which had a terrific narration:
are my notes from the video “Nematode Movement,” which had a terrific narration:
–“Whip
like, coil to change direction almost 360.
like, coil to change direction almost 360.
–Pressure
against cuticle to move.
against cuticle to move.
–Longitudinal
muscles only.”
muscles only.”
MS: What
did you do next?
did you do next?
LB: I asked myself this
organizing question: Which “juicy science story” will I tell?
organizing question: Which “juicy science story” will I tell?
This
helped me focus my thinking about nematodes. After all, a poem is not an encyclopedia entry, and the science
notes I write to accompany my poems are quite specific.
helped me focus my thinking about nematodes. After all, a poem is not an encyclopedia entry, and the science
notes I write to accompany my poems are quite specific.
To
answer this question, I took notes on my notes. My goal was to synthesize and
condense the information I’d collected and mine the most fascinating bits until
I found my “juicy science story.”
answer this question, I took notes on my notes. My goal was to synthesize and
condense the information I’d collected and mine the most fascinating bits until
I found my “juicy science story.”
From
Life in the Soil:
–Nematodes graze on bacteria and fungi, plant feeders (stylets).
Life in the Soil:
–Nematodes graze on bacteria and fungi, plant feeders (stylets).
–Lots
of lips, narrow mouth, vacuum from soil pores.
of lips, narrow mouth, vacuum from soil pores.
–Piercing
spears ram into roots to tap plant.
spears ram into roots to tap plant.
–Lips
(up to 6).
(up to 6).
–Fungus
traps nematodes with noose—strangler fungi.
traps nematodes with noose—strangler fungi.
From
the video:
the video:
—
Whip like, coil to change direction almost 360 degrees.
Whip like, coil to change direction almost 360 degrees.
In
my own investigations, I loved watching nematodes in motion!
my own investigations, I loved watching nematodes in motion!
As
I read over these notes and those from other sources, I decided that my poem
would tie the nematode’s flicking, whip-like motion to its eat-and-be-eaten
relationship with “strangler” fungi. That
was my juicy science story.
I read over these notes and those from other sources, I decided that my poem
would tie the nematode’s flicking, whip-like motion to its eat-and-be-eaten
relationship with “strangler” fungi. That
was my juicy science story.
MS: Was
that the end of your pre-writing process?
that the end of your pre-writing process?
LB: No. Next, I asked
myself a second key question:
myself a second key question:
Which powerful words associated with
this topic might spark an idea and make my writing POP?
To
answer this question, I did another round of taking notes on my notes. The
result was a list of power words/ideas filled with action, imagery, music, or
humor potential:
answer this question, I did another round of taking notes on my notes. The
result was a list of power words/ideas filled with action, imagery, music, or
humor potential:
wiggle
water films
whip
layers of lips
bacteria
sticky
spores
fungus
everywhere
trap
thread
glassy roundworms
soil spaces
stylets
piercing spears
noose
vacuum
coil
strangler fungi
gulp
ram
Finally,
I was ready to write.
I was ready to write.
MS: Can
you tell us a little bit about that process?
you tell us a little bit about that process?
LB: I played around with
my word collection and said the words aloud. Sometimes I walked as I spoke,
using my body to feel the rhythm. The short “i” sound in the word whip seemed to evoke the nematode’s
short, quick movements.
my word collection and said the words aloud. Sometimes I walked as I spoke,
using my body to feel the rhythm. The short “i” sound in the word whip seemed to evoke the nematode’s
short, quick movements.
Whip led me to flip, slip, lips, flick, quick, sticky, and tricky, which then led to trap, attack and finally a fun rhyme—snack.
That’s when I knew where I was headed. Here’s the final poem:
That’s when I knew where I was headed. Here’s the final poem:
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7 Responses
Great interview, Melissa, and thanks for all of these wonderful examples, Leslie–very inspiring!! Science & poetry are the perfect match!
Leslie and Melissa, I LOVE this!!!! I've started writing a lyrical science-based book and this post was perfect!
I loved reading about Leslie's process. I'm thinking it would work well for all types of manuscripts.
I'm so glad this is helpful! Melissa really helped me pull apart my process with her thoughtful questions.
I think science and poetry are a great match, too!
Absolutely, the same process would work well with all kinds of nonfiction writing.
I love nematodes! From billboard ads about killing them, to poetry — science writing is delicious! Thanks Leslie and Melissa.