Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
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January 2 question - What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?
This one is a bit tricky as I haven't told a lot of people in my Real Life that I write.
Being a romance writer and a teacher is a bit of a tricky combination so I've kept those parts of my life separate.
I do have a few Real Life Buddies who know. They tend to be great with their questions and mostly just ask, "How's your writing going?"
It's a good question, but a difficult one to explain to those who don't write. I tend to say I'm making progress, but am not quite ready to put my work out there. Yet.
My least favourite question is actually ANY question about my writing. Because I talk about it so rarely, I don't have answers ready. I'm not prepared and I tend to stumble and stammer. As I get closer to publishing my work, I know I'll have to practice!
How about you? How do you handle those tough questions thrown your way?
50 comments:
Not a lot of people in the real world know I write either, so I understand your struggle with that.
I'm out of practice talking about my own work. But I can tell you about DLP's upcoming releases.
Yes, as a teacher you are kind of expected to, I don't know, write about history? :) But I think romance and teaching are okay together. I should know since I've worked with teachers for 28 years.
I really dislike talking about my writing! I totally get where you're coming from. Happy New Year to you, Jemi!
A lot of my friends don't know yet that I write books. I'm planning to tell everyone...at some point. :) Happy IWSG Day, Jemi! http://www.raimeygallant.com
Trying to tell non-writers about our writing and how it's going is tough. Usually they ask me sounding all interested but then start to snooze, so I keep anything writing-related short and sweet.
I have to agree. I sputter but I love my stories and am more than willing to share if anyone with sit long enough to hear. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
I just started writing again after a long break, so I don't have many questions. I don't have ready answers either.
Explaining yourself is one of those things a writer has to deal with. If it's not fans demanding explanations for something your characters did, then it's agents who want you to sum up your book in one sentence. The questions just never stop.
Have a great 2019!
Sometimes I wish less folks knew about my writing life. I tend to turn the conversation away from it when people ask exactly that question, "How is the writing going?" I really dislike that question, even though I know they're just trying to be nice. Happy new year!
It's a tough one!
I bet you can!!! :)
Perfect! I think I'm probably supposed to write MG or YA - and I might - but for now, romance is calling!
It's so difficult to do!
Hope 2019 is great to you and yours Elizabeth!
LOL - I will too ... probably! :)
LOL - yes, we definitely don't want potential audience members snoozing off on us!
That's awesome! I definitely have to practice in order to do better!
Those answers are never easy to have!
They don't!! I'm definitely going to have to practice!!
They are trying to be nice and interested ... and it's still so awkward!!!
You are wise to keep your writing goals/progress under wraps. Thankfully, when I left outside employment to write full time, I didn't tell anyone there about my writing. I was less discreet with family and friends and I have some regrets on that point.
I don't tend to tell a lot of people either. If they mention it, I will blush and gush and smile and talk about it. But I rarely bring it up!
I bet! I can see the 'well-meaning' relatives driving me up the wall! :P
I've never brought it up either - too scary! :)
Favorite question: "How's it going?"
Least favorite question: "How's it going?"
Seven years after coming out of the writing closet, I'm still awkward. Maybe that can be my resolution. Happy New Year, Jemi!
LOL - I think I'll always be awkward as well!
Wishing you & your family all the best, Jeff!
I can see why you keep your writing a bit undercover. Once everyone knows you're a writer, you have to be ready to answer those questions. I'm not good at answering them at all--stammering nonesense. I'm sure people think I'm just pretending to write. "If she can't talk, how can she possibly write?"
LOL - I can see people thinking that about me as well! I'll have to work on it!
I use science meets the supernatural in my books. My book signings have attracted weirdos from both fields who do not think the two can co-exist yet alone be united.
Jemi -- it's funny how things can be so different, yet the same. Lots of folks know I write. I've blogged about it for years. But almost no one mentions my affliction in casual conversation. Either they have seen my stories and don't know what to make of them, or can't believe an old fossil like me could write anything interesting.
My only defense.....I write for me. If you like it, fine. If you don't, that's fine too. The self-published books on my shelf are enough, even when I wish more folks knew about them.
Anyway, you're time, whatever shape it takes, will come...... hopefully in 2019.
I bet you get some stressed out people when you point out they can easily be combined!
Writing does seem to be a very private pursuit fro many of us!
Writing for yourself is the best - I hope to always be able to do that! :)
Jemi, like you I do not have pre-written answers for questions so they can be awkward. I have better things to do with my time than spend it framing an intelligent response to an awkward question. Here's to a healthy and prosperous 2019 to you and yours.
Can definitely relate to your least favorite question. I never know how to answer those, either! (I'm fine with saying something simple, like, "Oh, yeah, my project is about vampires." But people always want more details than that, which just makes me go, "Uhhhhhhh." LOL.)
Hope 2019 is treating you well!
It's really interesting to realize how many people don't like talking about their writing and how many people keep their writing lives separate from the "real" lives.
Wishing you a wonderful new year filled with much joy and happiness :-)
Unless I have a new book out or coming out soon, I usually just say something like "It's going well, thanks." If they want more or something specific, they'll ask a better question.
Hi Jemi... Happy New year! Yes... PRACTICE. You must be ready when the time comes...
All the best with your writing this year!
Hope 2019 brings you lots of fun and joy!
LOL - yep, we're both alike in that department. I guess we should be thinking about it! :)
Thanks Ellen - I hope you and yours have a fabulous 2019 as well!
LOL - love it - that's my new response!
I guess I'll have to work on it!
Hope 2019 brings you lots of happiness, Michael!
I don't encourage conversation about my writing... especially not with non-writers who just 'don't get it'!
Happy New Year to you!
that's a very good plan! It's too complex to explain!
Hope 2019 is a fabulous year for you!!
I think the questions I like the least are- "How are book sales?", "Do you make a lot of money from your books?" and "How many books have you sold?" Unfortunately these are pretty regular questions. I don't think most people realize how little money most authors make and how very personal these questions are. I usually try to skirt around them. :)
Happy New Year!
~Jess
None of my friends or family write or care about my writing so they rarely ask about it. I can't even get them to read my blog posts.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
A lot of my friends know that I write, but I'm not comfortable sharing my work with them.
www.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com
Eek! Those are awful questions! I don't think most people realize how challenging it is either. Definitely skirt around those questions.
That's sad and frustrating. Lives are busy but still.
Hope you have a great 2019 Lee!
It's very VERY difficult to share with your family. I shared my nonfiction WIP with some for input and I didn't sleep for days after giving it to them!
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