Monday, June 10, 2013

How to love a writer: Earning her heart

Buy her a book. But not just any book. Buy her a book with blank pages and ask her to write you a story. But never tell her what to write. Ask her to write for herself, whatever she wants. Tell her she knows best. She is the writer, and she will choose to write you a story or she not.

Furthermore, pay attention to her. Maybe she only likes to write on certain paper. Maybe she has a special notebook cover that has refillable pages. Maybe she has a favorite writing utensil. If you know what she writes with down to the brand, the tip size, and the ink color, you inhabit one of the most intimate parts of a writer's brain. Buy a pen. Keep it on you at all times. She might lose hers and ask if you have one. Give it to her. Make her give it back. Tell her that if she ever loses her pen in your presence that you will always have it for her.

Make her a cup of coffee, tea if that's her thing. Writers don't get much sleep if they're any good at their craft. She is always in search of caffeine or something to drink. It helps her take her minds out of the small places that it sometimes get stuck in. Sometimes she just needs a break. Give her one. Talk to her. Find out what makes her tick.

Ask her why she writes. Chances are she was inspired by someone. Maybe it was a book, maybe it was an author. It could even be something that happened in her past. She has a reason. If it's an author, a book, ask if she has any copies. She's probably read them several times, she'll probably let you borrow one. If she does, read it. Even if you hate reading. Never tell her that. It would be like telling her that you hate breathing. She may never forgive you. When you finish reading the book, give it back. Always give it back.

If she asks you to give her a name, give her one. Don't take it as a joke. Give her the best name that you could ever come up with. If she can't make one up on her own, there's a high probability that she will use the one you give her in her finished product, in her life's legacy. She has put faith in you. Don't break that faith that she has.

Ask if you can read what she's writing. Don't just take it. Don't read it over her shoulder. If she says no, don't insist. Chances are it's because she hasn't fallen in love with her writing yet. She needs to love the writing before you can love the writing. When she's ready to share her writing, this is the ultimate trust. She may have started to fall.

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