Tuesday, June 14, 2011

*Flips hair*

Every once in a while, I come across someone who "gets it". And by "it" I mean writing. Most of the time they are a fellow author, so it's to be expected. But sometimes, I'm pleasantly surprised by the general public.

As someone who gets a little too excited when she talks about her characters, I can understand why I look like I forgot to take my medication. Get me on the subject of writing and I can ramble for hours. Show a remote interest in my work, and you'll get a rundown of the last ten years of creation. I'm fanatical. I freely admit it. And this is why most of my friends are writers.

This weekend I spent time with someone who isn't a writer, but sympathizes. He let me rant and rave and ramble to my heart's content about plot twists and character flaws and the ins and outs of the publishing industry. I didn't tone it down. I didn't censor myself. Ten minutes into the conversation I was waving a plastic spoon (thankfully, the ice cream stayed on the table) wildly and explaining why the song 'I Whip My Hair Back and Forth' goes through my head every time I think of one of my favorite characters.

And he was fine with it.

Not to insult the general public, but I often try to talk about what I do (as writing is a big part of my life and people tend to ask, "Oh, what have you been up to?") their eyes glaze over and they quickly change the subject. Or they offer me advice that really doesn't fit with the situation, which they would know if they'd been listening to the last five minutes of conversation. So, it's refreshing to find someone who not only doesn't mind the incessant rambling, but seems to enjoy it. He was interested.

And that's just fabulous :)


-Liz

9 comments:

  1. Absolutely! It's certainly a true gem when someone "get's it". Oh, how I love exchanging the ins and outs of stories with the it-getters.

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  2. I know, right! I'm so excited. Now I have someone else to share the voices with!

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  3. Yay for finding someone to talk to that doesn't get the glazed eye syndrome! :D

    My favorite random public advice when I mention that I'm editing/revising my current wip: Why haven't you published yet? It's so easy. Just put your book up like all those Kindle authors that make a ton of money. You could have made a bunch of money by now.

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  4. I HATE that. As if their idea of the way things are done is the only available option and what are you doing wrong if you aren't as successful as they imagine you should be.

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  5. ...and then you get the facedesk moment as you realise there's nothing you can do to make them understand and you have to give up. [Sighs.]

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  6. I've had several non-writers genuinely interested and sympathetic to the uphill struggle and endless roadblocks of the publishing process, but I've yet to meet a non-writer interested in the writing itself. What a marvellous find!

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  7. That rocks! I've been lucky to have a lot of friends who get it, so when I start to ramble they smile (fondly, without glazing) and let me go until I wind down. :-D A good ramble makes everything feel a little better!

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  8. It does! It's always nice to rant and rave when your characters aren't cooperating or you hate your villain, but know you can't kill him until Book 3.

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