Over the Christmas period you might have to attend a variety of family gatherings. As a writer you can expect some interesting questions, about your creative life, from inquisitive relatives and family friends.
Here are 10 questions a writer might get asked at Christmas Family gatherings:
- Are you still writing that book? Emphasis will be placed upon the word ‘still’ and you will either attempt to explain the amount of time it takes to write a book or you will simply nod (or grimace – depending on your project).
- When can we read your book? Emphasis will be placed upon the word ‘we’ and in your head you will picture the faces of all your relatives wading through your work. You might even shiver at the thought of some of them diving into the naughty scene at the end. You will change the subject by quickly commenting on the mild weather for December.
- I have always dreamed of writing a book – is it hard? You will smile, look away and mutter something about how the word ‘hard’ doesn’t come close to describing the experience of writing a book.
- Will you write more books? Emphasis will be placed upon the word ‘more.’ You will sigh, nod and explain that there are at least three or four books pinging around your head. Cue raised eyebrow and worried expression from relative. They might even turn to another and mumble “she’s writing more books!”
- Is it true you writers hear voices in your head? You cannot lie to family so you just nod.
- How do you come up with your ideas? If only they were sold on Amazon! You explain that coffee, sugar and hormonal fluctuations work well.
- A great guy at work wrote a book, he self published it and didn’t sell MANY copies. Do you think that will happen to you? You nod and say “yes it might happen!” Cue concerned look from relative. They may even take you aside and say “he knew what he was doing and he sold next to nothing!” You shrug your shoulders.
- Do you writers mainly wear tweed and a beret? You cannot lie to family so you gush “yes – all the time!”
- Do you meet up with other writers in libraries? You shake your head and say “no we all meet up on Twitter!”
- So what do you writers do for fun when you are not writing? Your answer is brief “we think about writing!”
Have a wonderful day!
Photo: Stocksnap
LOL, my mom is my alpha reader so she HAS read the naughty bits in some of my stories. The first time it happened she rolled her eyes and tells me I need more practice so I can write it better next time!! Ouch, et tu Mama?
Oh my goodness – poor you and….what a Mama!!
LOL, meh… I’ve become immune to her antics!!
Lol – you are accurate and informative…the mentioned question is good approach and dialogue..
Thank you for reading 🙋🏼
Reblogged this on My train of thoughts on… and commented:
Dear readers,
You will certainly enjoy Lucy Mitchell’s blog post as much as I do.
Thank you Karen 🙋🏼
My pleasure, Lucy. I just had to share! 🙋
Love it Lucy!!!
Thank you lovely Ritu! ☺
😚😚
Interesting post. I haven’t been asked any of those questions by my family yet other than my immediate family, maybe if I write a best seller or possibly they don’t like or care about my writing. Hmmmmmmmmm, what do you think about that? :o)
I find acting a little strange gets the questions flooding in! 🙋🏼 Thx for reading & happy Monday!
LOL. Most of these should also be considered “What not to say to an author”. Great list!
Yes!!! Thanks for reading and happy Monday to you 🙋🏼
And that last one really hits the nail on the head… Fortunately, I choose to spend Christmas on my own. Hope you had a good one, Lucy!
Hey Graeme! Thx for reading and….happy Monday 🙋🏼
The best one was at a family gathering and someone asked me for a free book. I asked them for a free tax return. (They are a CPA) They, of course, thought my request was laughable then suddenly got the point. We didn’t talk much after that. exchange.
Hey John! Lol! This made me smile! Thx for reading and happy Monday!
A smile is good. 😀
I enjoyed this post.
Have you thought about writing a follow-up post on the things you wish people would ask you instead? 🙂
Great idea 👍🏻 I might just do that! Thx for reading 🙋🏼
Lol, this made my evening. I can relate to most of the points and imagine the others. I just may write about something similar. 🙂
Hey thx 🙂 Happy Monday to you 🙋🏼
Reblogged this on Simone Paradis Hanson and commented:
I like this. Though I don’t wear a beret…
Hey thx – maybe you should get one bought? Happy Monday to you!
These and plenty more like it. And, they get repeated, over and over. But, we learn to smile and appreciate their interest and enthusiasm.
Yes I totally agree! Great comment – thank you! Happy Monday 🙋🏼
HILARIOUS!!!!
https://joyceackermann.com/
Thank you! Happy Tuesday ☺
I’ve heard most of these at some point with the exception of the voices one. My family operates on the whole don’t ask questions you really don’t want to know the answer to principle.
Hey future beta reader! Your family need to issue a fact sheet on how to operate when there is a writer in the family!
Or worse for #7, “Did you hear about so-and-so? He wrote a book, and it’s so amazing, and it’s just great, and he got all this professional stuff done and it cost thousands of dollars, I guess… and it sounds like maybe he’s not selling a whole lot of them, but it’s really good, and so yeah, wow, his book seems really good.”
>.< I wish him luck. I hope he gets back what he invested into the process. I don't plan on doing all that, and there's a list of pros and cons that go with that choice I'm making and–you've already moved on to some other subject so I'll stop talking about this one. 🙂
Lol! Great comment – thx! Happy Tuesday 🙋🏼
I’ve been writing my book for SO LONG (interrupted by several moves, cancer, yada, yada, yada) that my family doesn’t ask anymore. 🙂 Makes it easier. Have a blessed new year filled with my inspiration, my blonde friend.
Hey Mindy, thx for stopping by this blonde part of town! I hope your 2017 will be full of creative wonder and joy – sigh! 🙂
So true and so funny
Thank you! Happy Tuesday 🙋🏼
#1 – I am laughing hysterically. That is my uncle. “When will you be finished the book? How long will it take you finish it?”
Lol – I like the sound of your Uncle!! Thx for reading and happy Tuesday!
Lucy, I was half expecting similar conversations myself, however if my family were asking them, then the “he knew what he was doing and he sold next to nothing!” He would definitely be said in bold and underlined.
Thank you for the smile again and Happy New Year, hope it brings further inspiration your way and mine.
How do you come up with all this hilarious content practically everyday of the year, Lucy?! I love all these, but #6 “You explain that coffee, sugar and hormonal fluctuations work well” really cracked me up. For. some reason, it also made me think of that cartoon where the punchline is ‘if you didn’t want to be in my novel, you shouldn’t have been so awful’! Anyway, Lucy, happy holidays to you and yours, and wishing you a successful 2017 in terms of both your book and blog.
Oh, and I have one to add. It’s like a stage of grief (someone else’s grief) or something—when people don’t know what to say to a writer (maybe for fear of appearing in their next novel, unflatteringly). That’s mostly the type I get; that and ‘I don’t know what to say’ that culminates in simple congratulations (which makes me uncomfortable, though I do appreciate it).
Good comment Leigh! Thx
Ugh. I think I’ve heard most of those. If I had it to do over again, I honestly wouldn’t tell anyone I was writing a book. I’m also appreciative of the “That Book” comments, as if there were only one. I don’t choose to explain trunk novels to the non-writers of the world.