Comments on: When I Wish I Wasn’t a Writer

By: Justine Musk

Justine Musk — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:57:54 +0000

Ah, yes. I’m actually glad when people ask me that question — “What do you do?” — because in my circles the female half of the couple (when I was still part of that kind of couple) rarely gets asked that at all; it’s assumed she doesn’t do anything except shop and manage her husband’s domestic world, and so to ask “what do you do” would put the both of you in an uncomfortable, awkward silence. If the question gets asked at all, it’s prefaced with a cautious, “Do you work?”

I say “I’m a novelist” in a jaunty, fuck-it kind of manner, but what surprises (and annoys) me is how people will automatically assume that a) I can’t possibly be published or b) if I *am* published, it must be self-published. Not that there’s anything wrong with either, but I put in a lot of time and work to get my book deals.

By: Thomas Sullivan

Thomas Sullivan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:44:08 +0000

Pshaw, I’ll be glad to “take the blame” for anything Al writes, seeing as how he’s an exemplar of wit and wisdom. We are never more freely ourselves than when we write each other, methinks. I’m usually lost in interior space and exceedingly private. I thank one and all correspondents I’ve ever had for drawing out aspects of myself that otherwise would never have been expressed. By contrast fiction is like putting on costumes. Davey, I think that 60K we exchanged was an early prototype of Nanowrimo. What was that word I used to call you for your prolific output? Ah, well, “graphoholic” will do. A nice addiction by any label…

– Sully

By: Alan Russell

Alan Russell — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:35:02 +0000

I agree, David, any correspondence with Sully is a wonderful roller-coaster ride. Way back when (I feel like an old geezer rocking on the porch) before email Sully was my writing mentor. That means I can blame him for everything.

As for Janet’s comment, I know I’d be running myself!

Best,

Alan

By: janetberliner

janetberliner — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:50:16 +0000

When someone asks me what I do, I answer, “I’m a proctologist.” Shuts them up at once.

By: Thomas Sullivan

Thomas Sullivan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:33:59 +0000

[Extraneous note: Wha hoppen to my comment? Posted a couple hours ago and it's gone. Ah, well, here's a facsimile.]

I am still grinning at your plumber metaphor. But if I wasn’t grinning, I’d be commiserating with tears. Witty and wise, Al, and spot on. When someone asks me if I’m a writer, I usually just say, “it’s too late to get your money back.” And I stand duly chastised for “fool-time” writing, which I do a lot of. Thanks for reminding me that I need to get back into the traces. Truth be told, I have a lot of stuff that is eminently salable (he said), and basically I need to decide what direction I want to go in marketwise. It’s a critical decision and a crossroads I’ve faced before (and resolved poorly).

As for biz cards, have you tried photocopying book covers (mass market editions)? They get a little dogeared shoved into the back pockets of Levis, but then that’s what book covers are supposed to look like, right? And the business cards I’d like to RECEIVE, are the ones from that 2% you mention who buy all the books…

Write on, Amigo.

– Sully

By: David Niall Wilson

David Niall Wilson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:54 +0000

It’s much harder to teach family…I’ve learned this. I find my patience tested, and I’m sure they consider killing me in my sleep … I wish you luck.

And as we are all in this “fool-time” gig together, I’ll tip my hat in that direction as well. I write a lot more than I should that is not “career” writing – but then, in a way, all of it is.

Sully and I spent a summer a few years back trading (an estimate) of 60k words in e-mails. I don’t regret pushing a single key.

DNW