Monday, May 12, 2008

On the Outside Looking In

Being a writer with a book that you're ABOUT to finish, or a book that is ABOUT to sell or a book that is ABOUT to come out is a lot like being invited to stand outside of the party with your nose pressed to the window watching everyone else dancing, drinking (although kidlit authors never drink) and generally having a mahvelous time. Sometimes, out of the corner of your eye, you spot another writer with their nose pressed to the window on your right and you exchange knowing looks.

Boo hoo for us. So why do you do it, you ask? Why not go get an actual job where you get paid for just showing up, and actually doing something productive is a nice bonus for those who employ you? It's not like anyone is holding a gun to your head. It's not like you have to write stuff and then try to sell it to people who will in turn sell it to the world at large. Eh?

That would suggest that most of us really have a choice, but in fact once you get a taste for writing, you really can't help yourself. That one rhyming picture book that you wrote years ago and mercifully put into a drawer is like literary crack - once you start, you can't get enough and it only escalates into mid-grade and young adult novels.

I do notice however, that my nose is starting to flatten out just a little on the end.

On this date: In 1907, Katherine Hepburn was born.

4 comments:

Natalie said...

See that noseprint on the glass next to you? That's mine--I just went to get some more ginger ale (not at the party, but at the 7-11 down the street). Be right back...

Disco Mermaids said...

Hey, Natalie, will ya get me some Cheesy Puffs while you're up?

:-)
Robin

(Awesome post, BTW)

CJ Omololu said...

Are ya gettin' the regular ones or those wierd hot red ones?

Natalie said...

How about I get the variety snack pack set? And do I need Windex for the nose prints?