Sunday Snippet: The Author Event Edition

Did you really write all these books?

How long have you been writing?

How long does it take you to write a book?  

Where do you get your ideas?

and interestingly, Do you like doing this? Do you like writing?

Those questions and others came up from readers at the author event I participated in yesterday and the last one was the only one I hadn’t heard before.

Yes, I did write all these books. I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil; I wrote my first book at age 10, but I’ve been published since 2012. It takes me about four to six months to write a book. My ideas come from the people in my head who are in a long line waiting for their story to be told. Ordinarily, a long line of people talking in my head would be a confession that would get one rushed into therapy, but writers get a pass.

But when I was asked, Do you like writing? I had to pause for just a second, and frankly, the question’s been in my head ever since. Simmering in the back of mind. I didn’t even discuss it with Minnie, my friend/PA/sherpa/booth babe (I loved that one!) who’d come along to help me out.  First of all, it didn’t happen while I was sitting at my table, it was from a person sitting at her own table, and I’d stopped to look at her books and say hello, mostly because she looked so… young and sad and out of place and maybe even a little bored.

She was maybe in her late twenties and wore a black T-shirt. Her table was sparse, a couple of titles arranged in two rows,  some bookmarks, a stack of business cards, and an 8-x-10 photo of herself with her name written across it like an autograph in a plain black frame. Truthfully, I can’t remember what the books were. But it doesn’t matter because it was clear, she would rather have been anywhere else yesterday.

The question that started as Do you like doing this? eventually in our short exchange, became Do you like writing? which is an entirely different question.

Do I like doing author events? Well, it’s a fun way to meet readers, to get your face connected to your stories, to network with other authors and writers groups, and to talk story. You do have to prepare–to have all the “stuff” you need together, to wear comfortable clothes, and to be “on,” which is, I admit, hard for most writers. Writing is a solitary profession, and we’re in our own heads way more that the average person, so stepping out of it is a little bit harrowing, but always fun in the end.

But the question that surprised me was, Do you like writing? The first response that rose to my lips was Would I be here if I didn’t? But the look on her face–sad, confused, and maybe a little overwhelmed, stopped me from being flip. I told her and I meant it with all my heart, It’s who I am. There’s no me without writing. I wish that thought was original to me; it’s not. I was quoting a fellow author, Anne Stuart. But when I first heard (read) Anne say it, I felt seen as writer for first time in my life. So I use it … often.

That morose young woman just stared at me like I’d suddenly grown an extra pair of ears, and she merely said, Oh, okay. There was so much I wanted to say, to ask her, like why are you doing this if it’s not what you love? What are you avoiding? What is your true passion? But someone else came along and picked up one of her books, and I had to get back to my table to meet and greet, so I simply said, Good luck today, and I moved on.

But she’s stayed in my head, although I don’t even recall her name or what table she was at. I didn’t even pick up her card or a bookmark, which is sad too. If I was left only with the impression of someone who was unhappy at an event that was all about the happy, how did she affect others? I wonder if she sold any books. If she engaged any readers. If this event would be her last. In a way, I hope so, because she was clearly not enjoying herself and that’s too bad.

I confess author events are work, and writing is hard work too. I’ve been known to spend an hour working over one sentence in a sixty-thousand word manuscript. And toiling over characterization, fixing plot holes, moving the story forward can be exhausting, but the people in my head insist I write, and writing is so very much my happy place. There’s no me without it.

We had a good day, Minnie and I. We sold some books, we met some great folks–both readers and writers, we got to talk story and share my stories and we laughed– a lot! We ended the day with beer and pretzels and an early supper at a local brewery. So all in all, a successful book signing. But that young author… sigh.

Gratitude for This Week: Husband got to mow! Saw Grandboy a couple of time, which is always a treat. Sprinted and wrote on the new WIP. Had a grand time at the book signing. Time spent with Minnie is always a pleasure.

Stay well, find your passion, choose kindness always, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!