I asked for questions, and you came up with some great ones! This is the last one…
Exhibit A: My father-in-law read my teen love story. I think it was the first romance he had ever read.
Exhibit B: My mother-in-law isn’t a big reader. She gave me this bag instead (aw, isn’t she cool?)
Them: “How’s the writing going?”
Me: “Good! Really good. I’m working on the new teen novel. Also drinking tea.”
Them: “Uh, ok. Cool. Do you write at Starbucks?”
Me: “I’m trying to rewrite the opening, but I just can’t find the exact subplot I need to carry it to the Inciting Incident. I mean, I know that it has to matter to my MC, something vital to her character and that gives her a choice to make, so I can totally SHOW her reaction, but I’m just not clear yet on what would really hook and compel the reader forward.”
Him: “Uh, ok. Cool. Do you want to go to Starbucks?”
When people first find out I’m a writer, it usually goes something like this…
Dental Hygienist (chatting me up): “So do you work?”
Me (wondering when the dentist is going to show up): “Well, sort of. I’m a writer. I don’t make much money, but it is a lot of work.”
DH: “Really? Wow! That’s cool.”
Me: “Yeah, I like it.”
DH: “What do you write?”
Me: “Books for kids and teens. My first novel came out last summer. It’s a teen love story.”
DH: “No way! I have a niece who’s a teenager! She would totally love that!”
Me: “Here, you can see if she’d like it.” (hands her a postcard of the book)
DH(looking over the postcard): “Can I keep this?”
Me: “Sure. I hope she likes it.”
DH: “She’ll be so excited! I’ll tell her I met a real live author!”
(enter dentist)
I’m stunned that people think it’s a big deal, but they do. Which is awesome. Most people that know me and my background as a scientist/engineer/elected official are surprised to find I write at all. But once they do, they’re surprised I write anything other than science fiction! But writing for kids seems to make sense to them, since my public life on the school board and my private life as a mom all rotate around kids.
I’ll admit that it helps to have a book they can hold in their hands. I didn’t actually come out as a writer (like it’s something to hide!) until I started to get serious about it. But even before I had a book under contract, the reactions were about the same. People thought it was vaguely cool, and then wanted to talk about something else.
Which is fine with me. But I can’t imagine writing in a time when I didn’t have access to some of the finest writer-friends via the interwebs. I am sure that I would never have made it this far.
Ah, gotta love the online writing community. If not for that, I'd be talking point of view and conflict structures with the cats.
Sounds pretty much like my experience. My dad is really proud and honestly tries to take an interest. He read Shades of Atlantis both in book form and draft, well some draft. He's very excited about my next release because it's on a topic that interests him.
I generally find people in my real life think it's exciting and presume I'm earning lots of money for little work. When I explain it's more than typing up a story and being presented with a bound book, and that it's not going to make me rich any time soon, they lose interest and can't understand why I would bother.
I'm going writing full time from late August and going back to college part-time. My brother is worried because he sees it as such a solitary occupation, my partner too. They don't quite understand what I do with my time when I'm locked away reading or writing. I think the consensus is that I never speak to anyone, when in reality sometimes I spend so much time talking about books and writing to my friends online that I get little real work done.
I LOVE the bag! So cute. Your sample conversation with a friend about your writing is hilarious! 🙂
Yeah, that bag rocks! And I loved the story of your visit to the dentist. You're a celebrity!
And I know what you mean when you start talking about a scene you're writing and your friend/husband/co-worker's eyes glaze over. When will I learn? "-)
Love the bag! Being a former teacher who wore out many totes, this would have been my favorite! Great glimpse into your writing life expecially the dental hygenist-had a similar experience with a craft magazine. She told me she had a great novel idea of her experiences as a hygenist and she did, I was laughing so hard it took forever to get my teeth cleaned. But she's still in the "wanting to write" stage. I told her not to wait too long to get started.
I love this post! The writing community is also my main source of support – they understand and completely "get" the ups and downs that I am experiencing. Good example – in December I confided to a friend that I was working on a new book, that I was very excited about it. Her response? "Great! Maybe it will be out by New Years – wouldn't that be fun!!" Huh? No, it won't be out by new years. It needs to be finished, polished, read by beta testers and then queried. LOL explaining that would be about as easy as bathing a cat so I let it go:)
LOL I love it! It's funny how people react, isn't it?
@Bryan It's all good, until the cats have an opinion. 🙂
@Carol Yup! There are huge misconceptions in the "real world" about writing and the rigors and rewards thereof. My husband calls all my online buddies my "imaginary friends." 🙂 But he's still very supportive of my zaniness. Mostly because he sees that it makes me happy.
@Shannon I think I've had that exact conversation about a dozen times. 🙂
@Darby Yes, but my eyes glaze when the hubs starts talking about his work, too. I mean, I'm always the perfectly attentive wife. LOL We need our spouses to at least pretend to listen on occasion. 🙂
@Catherine Oh yes, all the people that find out you're a writer and say, "I've always wanted to write a novel about …" I've tried encouraging people, but I find either you have your own steam or your don't. No one else can power your writing.
@Lindsay NEW YEARS? Yeah, there's not much to say to that. I need to come up with a snappy retort, just in case I'm in that situation. Something like, "Yes, but Oprah requires that we book at least six weeks out." LOL
@Lisa People are awesome. 🙂
this is an awesome post, Susan! And I love the idea of book postcards–brilliant! And the bag–that's a great gift. :o) <3
@LTM Post-cards are indispensible – or cards of any kind with your book cover on it. People like to have something they can hold! 🙂
Ha ha I've had that same conversation with my husband, many times, but once in a while he gets SERIOUS and actually starts to offer me ideas! None of them are remotely useable but I still love it! And someday he may just give me the perfect idea. Thanks for answering!
@Margo I think it's great that your husband at least tries! So sweet. 🙂 Happy Weekend!
They keep asking for more mice in the stories. Dead mice, preferably.
Very cool! I love the reactions 🙂
and then the dental hygienist pops back in and says, "You know, I have a great idea for a book. Maybe I could give you the idea, you could write the book, and we could split the profit." ;^)
@Bryan But the live mice are so much more fun!
@Jemi I swear, I am not making this up. 🙂
@Mother OMG, you must have seen this video! "I want to write a novel." "For the love of all that is holy, why?"
Finding this online writing community has been so valuable. I can't imagine being a writer without it!
@Sherrie Exactly! 🙂
*Smiling!*
I was so touched when I found out my (adoptive)uncles had read my books – they are rough and tough farmers who I never thought even knew I was an author. It just makes me smile to imagine their sun-leathered faces looking down at my words 😀
et cetera!
So true… I feel the same way.
@Kathryn You have some very cool Uncles! 🙂
@JJ 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Can so relate to this post, except for the part about having an actual book. Still working on it, hard.
Thanks for sharing.