Tuesday, June 11, 2013

How to love a writer: Dating her

After you've won her heart, you need to keep it. It won't be hard for her to love you after you've already won your place there. You're now like one of her favorite novels, stuck nice and neat in a specific place in her book shelf. You aren't going anywhere. She's got you bookmarked.

Understand that writers can go days without having a meaningful conversation with you. She might need her alone time. If she does, let her have it. She's working through a plot hole or something that's been bothering her, hurting her novel. If it's hurting her work, in her mind it's hurting her. Let her work it out on her own time.

If she wants to stay awake until three in the morning trying to perfect something, trying to get inspiration, let her. If she wants to watch the sun rise so she can experience it, let her. Stay up with her, keep her company. Watch the sun rise with her over the top of the horizon. If you fall asleep, she understands it's the thought that counts. You might even be endearing to her.

Remember when you promised to hold onto that one pen for her? Keep it. If you lose it, find another one just like it. She will know you weren't lying, know that you will always be there for her.

Ask her if her favorite author has written a new book (If s/he's still alive, that is). Chances are that it will be noticeable when your writer disappears for a few hours or wakes up to a package and grins. Ask if you can borrow the book when she's done with it. If there isn't a new book, ask her if there's something you should read anyway. She probably has a large bookshelf full of things she would be willing to let you borrow.

Bring her alcohol or coffee or tea. Sit and drink with her. Engage in meaningless conversation. Talk about the weather or about trains. Ask her about her characters or about her plot. Don't criticize them. She's not finished. Don't edit her work. If she wanted you to she would ask.

Always ask if she has anything of hers you can read. She probably does. Read it. Ask her about it.

You must be patient with her. Writers can be a very peculiar and finicky type. You need to be dedicated and positive that she is what you want, even if it's for a short time. Because, if in the middle, you change your mind and hurt her, you will probably regret it.

Never hurt her. Or at least try not to. Writers, when hurt, always have the option to take out their grief and pain through the written word. And that means print, and that means publishing for the world to see. If you make a writer cry, she will turn her tears into print. And once in print, she can't take it back. So don't break her heart. If you must, let her down gently, a soft landing in the grass. Buy her another notebook and tell her to hate you with the best words that she has.

No comments:

Post a Comment