Perfect Timing

It seems the homemade sourdough bread trend is on the rise. Bread making is bubbling up everywhere, as if doubling overnight. Some consider the careful nurturing of fermented flour and water to be a cult, as it is usually the result of sharing knowledge and a small jar of a mystery blob.

Sourdough, however, is not new on the scene. Origins are estimated between 3000 and 1500 BC in ancient Egypt. The assumption is that, like many things, it was discovered by accident. Wild yeast and bacteria likely fermented some leftover flatbread dough.

Imagine waking up to find what would have been your breakfast makings sitting in the bowl, bubbly and expanded with a strange scent. “Oh well, not that there are other choices for food. Cook it anyway…” ….And WOW!

The practice spread to the Greek and roman Empires. In fact, evidence of a first century sourdough loaf was found in the ruins of Pompeii.

Jump forward to the California Gold Rush, before commercial yeast was available, and then to the Klondike Gold Rush, where the packaged yeast could not survive the extreme cold. Sourdough was a staple, and the base ingredient for nearly all breads, crackers, biscuits, cookies, flapjacks, and more.

Many prospectors would keep their sourdough starter warm inside their jackets, and sleep with it in the bedroll. Those miners became known as “sourdoughs”. Despite the nickname, those rugged individuals were often sought out to share a nugget of that wealth which needed nothing more than some flour and water to live.

The variables, type of flour, condition of water, consistency of care, and temperature all influence the response of the yeasts and bacteria in the starter, affecting the fermentation action, the scent, and ultimately the quality of breads.

Some strains of sourdough starter live on for centuries, if given proper care. Success depends on the variables and the timing. Timing of feeding, and timing of dough fermentation, timing of proofing and baking. Each element contributes to a successful outcome.

Success in writing is also dependent on timing. Not only in the pacing of the story, but in the timely presentation to agents, editors, and publishers. A publisher may love your story, but they just took on a similar topic with another writer. They don’t want to immediately duplicate the current effort. Your story may need to wait for the right timing, or for another publisher that is not already obliged.

Timing is also shown in the genre of the work. General fiction is driven by plot, and by character decisions which drive the plot. There are tensions, turning points, action, and revelations which engage the reader. It may not delve into the details of the descriptions, allowing the reader to complete the scene.

Literary fiction, however, is character-driven. It is not so much about events and plot, but about the deep development of the actors. It often reads like prose. The genre spends more time describing the setting, the emotions, the flaws and make-up of the players in the story. There may not be significant action in literary fiction. The reader is drawn into the personal values, reactions, and interactions of the characters. The pace, tone, and timing of literary fiction cab be vastly different from science fiction, historical fiction, and other varieties of the fiction genera.

Lately, however, we are seeing blended or crossed genres as well as crossed audiences. Lines blur and expectations shift. New opportunities present themselves. Human creativity is valued. The process is daunting, but for those endeavoring to write, it is perfect timing!