On authors and friends: I get the impression that people think that most writers get together on a very regular basis (say, once or twice a week) to talk about writing, write, and exchange tales of publishing life. Some envision writers living in interesting neighborhoods with quaint bookstores and adorable coffee houses, and on Friday night they imagine the writers gather together and share their works in progress. Pretty picture, eh? I have to say, in my experience, that image is false. I mean sure, it may be true for someone, somewhere (I believe a lot of newer writers get this dreamy image of the writing life - but I dont generally speak in absolutes, so my experience may not be the absolute truth for everyone everywhere). In my experience...its not like that at all. True, almost all of my friends are writers. True, the subject does tend to focus on writing and publishing (the highs, the woes) when we chat. But though I live in the same city as many writers, we dont see one another in person much. Unless we arrange an occasional (very occasional) coffee get-together. I dont chat in-person often with my non-STL writer friends either, that is, unless we see one another at a convention or something. Nevertheless, we are friends. Im okay with our unspoken arrangement. They are too, I think. The thing is, most writers are introverts. Most get drained fairly easily in the company of chit-chatters. So the occasional chat is enough. I used to think that was weird, that it made me a friendless freak, that I was pathetic because my friends generally live in the magic box on my desk. But the longer Ive been around, the more I see how normal my experience is. I dont need daily face-to-face interaction. I just need an occasional awkward, feet-shuffling hello from the people I care about. And my friends get that. They have my back, and I have theirs. My friends rock. My Minions do too. Im feeling grateful tonight for all of you. Just...yknow...FYI. :)
Posted on: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 01:00:58 +0000
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