They exchanged greetings, and then comments about their coats, hats, and smiles.
Then they went on, two strangers pausing to chat while they were walking through the falling snow.
@70
He was comfortable, and she wanted to turn the heat up.
She was going to dance-exercise classes, and he was counting pills.
He was impatient to drive faster, and she thought he should slow down.
She was remarking about the pleasant evening they’d had, and he was complaining about the price of a dinner for two.
Sorry, No
I recently met a person at the coffee shop who discovered that I was a writer. They asked me to tell them about what I was writing.
Sorry, no.
In a hurry, I said, “Sorry, it doesn’t work that way,” and departed. But after walking away, I began thinking about my answer, constructing the reasons that it doesn’t work that way.
In my early days, I was always eager to tell people about what I was writing. My position changed for several reasons.
- In the early days, I was hunting for validation and encouragement. I was more insecure about writing. I wanted someone else to tell me how wonderful it all sounded.
- A book is a written work. The nuances live in the words and the order that I’ve arranged them to tell a story. I work hard to find the ideas, establish and grow the characters, advance the plot, and tell the story. That’s all done through written words and the supporting structure.
- I’m an organic writer, also called a pantser. Starting with a concept, I build. The construction takes unexpected directions and doesn’t seem to pause until I write ‘The End’. What I tell you about today may not make it into the final first draft.
- Writing a novel or short story excites and energizes me. My ideas are usually complex. Chances are, you’re not going to be able to follow, because, again, I’m talking about a written work. Your lack of enthusiasm will depress me. Unless you want to read a passage or have me read it to you, I’m not going to tell you. I’m also not going to let you read it because of reason number two, already presented: it’s a work-in-progress.
- Finally, with all the previous reasons, talking about what I’m writing to others siphons energy off, in my experience, so, sorry, no.
Policy exceptions exist. First, if you’re an agent or publisher, I’ll be polite and do what I can to tell you what I’m writing and why it excites me.
I can also talk about the writing process (I probably enjoy talking about it too much), especially to other writers. As part of that, I’ll share some of a WIP with other writers. Whether it’s me and my expectations, or their experiences, or our empathy, or all of these things along with other aspects, I think other writers are worthy recipients to hearing about my WIP.
Thinking about all of this, I realize that my attitude is a major hindrance to selling agents or publishers on my finished novels. I love being subtle and complex in my writing, and accomplish that, in my mind. Lot of people don’t have the patience for subtle and complex, and it’s hard to convey in the first twenty pages, along with a synopsis, pitch, and hook. I’m just not good at that shit. Admitting it means that I need to work harder on it, along with my first twenty pages.
I suspect that my writing style likely only appeals to one percent of potential readers. Not a problem, to me, because there are many readers in the world. The larger problem is that I probably need to submit to one hundred agents to get one interested, and they’ll probably need to pitch it to multiple editors and publishers. So, I feel like I’m looking at a high and steep rocky mountain to climb.
I’ve been climbing it for a while, and will keep going. Each time I reach one ridge, I think I’ve reached the top only to find there’s more climbing to do. That’d be a problem if all of this conceiving, imagining, writing, editing, and revising wasn’t so much damn fun.
It’s also addictive.
Okay, enough reflecting. Time to write like crazy, at least one more time.
Last Wish
Dressed in a long, glossy black skirt, black boots, and a hooded black rain coat, she shuffled in slowly. Her steps made no sounds. A little bent forward, white, with wire rim glasses, she looked straight ahead.
She looks like death, he thought.
Turning, she looked at him, raised a black-gloved finger at him, and smiled. She is death, he realized. The scene changed. Instead of being at a coffee shop table typing on a computer, he was squirming and shaking against the shock of being born.
Great, he thought back in the other moment, guessing that he was going to endure a this-is-your-life montage before dying.
That was probably going to take a while.
He wished he had more coffee.
Floofkanda
Floofkanda (floofinition) – An isolated region where housepets roam in safety and happiness while learning about the secrets of the universe.
In use: “Many people think their pets die, but in reality, they’ve found the bridge to Floofkanda. Although they love their bipedal friends, a natural imperative forces them to cross the bridge and reach Floofkanda.”
Monday’s Theme Music
When I think of “Jungle Love”, I usually think of Steve Miller first. His song came out in 1977.
But today, I’m mentally streaming a song that came out over six years later. Performed and released by the Time, “Jungle Love” is a funk-pop rock tune with a terrific chorus and Prince playing several of the musical instruments. The song’s beat always gets me moving, which was useful for today. Two cups of coffee wasn’t enough to get me dressed and out of the house. “Jungle Love” pushed me further.
Hope you enjoy it (enjoy it), (oh we oh we oh).
Disturbing Results
He didn’t know how this fit into anything.
Completing his manuscript, including revising and editing it, he scoured the net, found a dozen prospective agents, and sent it off to them.
Three weeks later, he hadn’t heard anything from any of them and decided to beat the net to see what was happening with his prospective agents.
Imagine his surprise when they all turned out dead.
Well, he’d always thought it was a killer idea.
Gadfloof
Gadfloof (floofinition) – a housepet who provokes others into action by criticism.
In use: “A true gadfloof, Raven beckoned Suzo forth with mews and glances until Suzo followed her. When they stopped, Raven sat down in front of the litter box. She looked at Suzo and then dolefully looked at the box. Suzo looked at Raven. Raven looked at the box again and Suzo realized it needed to be cleaned.”
