Monday, May 28, 2012

Mangled Manuscript Monday


It happened again. My deer-in-the-headlights reaction to *the* question.

“So what are you doing now?”

“I’m retired,” I muttered.

I could have said, “I’m a writer of fantasy with three manuscripts under my belt, a fourth started, and numerous short stories hovering in my documents.”

But as soon as the words leave my mouth, ‘I am a writer’, I know the questions that come next. And the ‘face’ of the speaker. They don’t quite roll their eyes. At least, not right away.

“Oh? You write books? Like Tom Clancy?” –raised eyebrows
“Um, no.”
“Like Louis L’Amour?”
“No.”
“Stephen King?”
“No. I write fantasy. Like Patricia Briggs.”
*silence*
“Like Jim Butcher.”
*crickets chirping* “Well, good luck with that. Hey, what about Desperate Housewives on TV, why not write that stuff instead.”

*facepalm*

13 comments:

  1. Obtusity runs amok! People are...Grrrr...don't get me started.

    I walk around with my fingers in my ears, singing "La La La La La..." That's how I stay sane. It seems to be working for me. I haven't killed anybody yet. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "...a prophet has no honor in his own country..."

      My family and friends know me too well, I think.

      Delete
  2. Yep. This is exactly why I don't tell people about being a writer, and get made at my family when they spill the beans for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. those who aren't in this business are clueless about the complexities of becoming published.

      Delete
  3. hate that question! but another i hate more is from friends who know i write,

    "hows the writing going?" and the worst...
    "so, you published yet?"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, good grief yes!!

      "So where is your book?" "You're STILL writing?"

      GAAAAHHHHHHH!!

      Delete
  4. Ha! Exactly. Because sadly, most have them have no clue who Ursula LeGuin is, or Marion Zimmer Bradley, or Peter S. Beagle, or Rothfuss or Martin or ...you get the idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. And WE know every one of them. Like they are family.

      Delete
  5. I was at a leadership retreat and I finally decided screw it, If anyone asks I'm telling. I did. Suprisingly, they encouraged me. I didn't get the oh, what's your story about? Or are you published? I got "that's great" "Good for you." "Go for it and keep us posted." I was surprised. =)

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  6. That's why I don't offer unless cornered.

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  7. We've all been there with 'those' people. But there are some who are really interested, too. And even a few who know something about the business of writing. They usually pop up when least expected.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think you must be talking to the wrong people because you just mentioned two of my favorite fantasy authors.

    ReplyDelete

Your Turn. Don't Be Shy

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