Heh.

[mer]

I suppose now that the secret is "out", I won't get much more of this, but I find myself really entertained by the people who want to talk about my book--and not because they want to talk about my book, exactly, but they want me to explain myself for being secretly interesting.  Or something.

My thoughts:

1) If you didn't find me interesting before, you probably will not find me interesting now.  Whether or not you will find the book interesting? Different  question.

2) I was not actually carrying on a secret life.  I have never been shy about admitting to wanting to be a writer, my whole life; nor in the last ten years, when asked what my hobbies were, was it rare I avoided mentioning the writing thing.  Typically, if I avoided mentioning it, it was to people I was buying discount tires from.  Even if they asked what I did in my spare time, I would say "reading" instead of "writing."  Because...  when there is a fleeting relationship with someone, do they really need to know about my hopes and dreams?

2b) I did also refuse to admit once to a cashier at Borders that I was buying writing books because I was writing.  Because I was ornery that day. Also, file under "fleeting relationship."  Because while I knew quite a few of my Borders cashiers by at least sight back in the day, I could tell he wasn't going to be in it for the long haul.

2c) Also, I've never brought it up with the dentist.  I like my dentist just fine; however, I find that I do not wish to carry on conversations, small or large, casual or not, with people who have their hands in my mouth.  Professionally, that is; you will not henceforth get me to shut up about anything by sticking your hand in my mouth. I like my current hygienist very well because she respects my boundaries. 

3) While I admit that it seems quite sudden that I have become a published author, I assure you, I have been working at this diligently for a while.  And have published numerous short stories.  I know you think those don't count, but...  they do.

3b) I have, in fact, been working at this for coming up on 10 years.  Ish.

3c) Likewise, this book has been pending for like 2 years.

4) Contrary to the evidence exhibited at/by my dayjob, I do have ambition.  It just wasn't dayjob-oriented.

I think that about covers it.

Comments

[dendrophilous.livejournal.com]

It's funny to think that someone would think you were keeping it a secret, I guess since I met you through writing.

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Right. Thought that reminds me of forgotten point 5) I had a WEBSITE.

[robinbridges.livejournal.com]

4) Contrary to the evidence exhibited at/by my dayjob, I do have ambition. It just wasn't dayjob-oriented.


This. :)

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

*grin*

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

My husband often nags me because I don't tell people I'm a writer. But you know, I can't produce a novel for them, so I'm not a 'real' writer.

My dentist knows, but only because of the WOTF write-up in the local newspaper.

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

I did have a hard time saying, "I'm a writer." And yes, I often found discussing short stories to be more trouble than it was worth. But still, if people cared enough to ask, I would tell them. Maybe not the whole truth. Maybe I'd just say, "I'm writing a book," because that's an accessible conversational topic.

Maybe, also just maybe, the people who are the most surprised about the writing thing are the people who never asked.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Very likely ;o)

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I love it that some people think I'm being secretly intersting (either about the fiction or the history) when in reality I'm quite upfront about being intersting. My dentist knew about my first novel, but that was because my father was a dentist so I tell dentists much more than most patients do. I tell my dentist about me spending school holidays twirling on an antique dental chair, for instance. Apart from that (and the fact taht I never quite had the courage to buy writing books) I had much the same experience as you.

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

:)

The dentist thing resonates with me. My mom was an ER nurse. I find emergency rooms very comforting, as a result. I am informed I am the only one on earth who feels this way.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I've known you long, a decade or so, but not very well, so I think I went through thoughts like that about you, but it was a while ago. Obviously I always found you interesting, because no one stays on my blog-reading-list long who isn't, but I do think there was a point when you from "wants to be a writer someday" to "serious writer who is publishing stories and actively working on a Real Book" in my brain. I suspect you've actually been in the second category that whole time and I just didn't realize it at first.

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

You actually knew me in the "someday" phase. :)

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

B/c "coming up on 10 years" actually means 7 or 8, and I think we've known each other like... 11? Right around Christmas 1999 was when I started on Diaryland, and you were one of the first journals I started reading--by March 2000, I would think. Maybe I'm off.

[mykkel.livejournal.com]

Just finished the book. I liked it. Congratulations again.

I'm particularly impressed that you spent time looking at the ferns when we were paintballing. :)

[mrgeddylee.livejournal.com]

The way the Arb Ninja taught us to play, sometimes ferns were all there was to see.

[mykkel.livejournal.com]

True, but my mask fogged up so often, I couldn't see the ferns. :)

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Oh, I had those anti-fog sprays and wipes. It helped.

And once I realized I possessed neither stealth nor speed, the only way I ever was anything other than paint fodder was to hide in the ferns. That was how I took out Randy, in point of fact. Wait in the ferns, resist shooting until someone walked past, shoot them in the back.

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

I should just copy and paste this into my blog. :/

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Srsly, feel free. ;)