Writing in Public
Nov. 8th, 2011 03:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
keiramarcosNational Novel Writing Month brings out the... hobby writers. Some people write because they are compelled to and some write because they want recognition. I don't care about being famous. I do want to share my work -- I like that part. It would be difficult to deny that since I publish fan fiction on the 'net. Obviously, I want my work to be read but I don't care about anything else. I'm not famous. I don't want to be. I am, however, passionate about my craft and about the work that I do. I really like meeting other writers.
Still writing in public is different this time of the year. Artistic type people that know about NaNo feel like they can come up to you and ask you about your work -- inevitably happens often during the month of November. Far more than it does any other time of the year actually.
I tell you this in a preemptive attempt at defending my own obliviousness.
About an hour ago, this man takes a table near mine. My BFF (Snotty Chicklit Writer) and I have been camped out in Atlanta Bread Company because Smug Mother's Club meets at the cafe on Tuesday and I decided to spare myself that trauma this week. Anyways, he sits down and pulls out a lap top and eventually he starts chatting with me. We chat for about a half hour about writing time and about this book on craft that I read recently that I really enjoyed.
He tells me about a little about himself -- he recently retired after serving 20 years in the Air Force. He enlisted at 18 and he finished his doctorate recently in engineering. I thank him for his service and ask him what he plans to do now that he's retired from the military. He says that he's looking to settle down and get married. I point out some local areas where he can meet women and Snotty Chicklit Writer smirked at me. You realize where this is going right? Because I didn't.
Because he offers me this pretty smile and and raises an eyebrow and says, "Well, I seemed to have decent luck meeting interesting women all on my own. You've certainly brightened my day."
Right.
To be truthful, I'm not a beauty queen or anything. Men don't run from me in horror but that's neither here nor there. I don't get hit on much these days because my wedding ring is rather prominent on my hand. I call it the "symbol of ownership" for a reason. I just stare at him in shock.
So, the BFF rides to the rescue with, "Forgive her, she's so married that when someone hits on her she doesn't even notice. She thought you were really interested in listening to her talk about plot development in the modern fiction novel and not the fantastic way that sweater shows off her tits."
He nods and grins at her. "It's a great sweater." Then he looks at my ring finger and says, "If you were mine--I'd make sure everyone knew it."
The husband took my wedding band and engagement ring to the jewelers to be cleaned because he needed a battery replacement for his watch. Now, I'm kind of pissy because he probably wasn't interested in my opinions about the modern fiction novel and the differences between internal and external plot. He's lucky he's a pretty bastard. And honestly? He's totally my type-- tall, milk chocolate skin, and built. The Cock Provider is lucky I think he's the best thing to ever swing a dick.
Still writing in public is different this time of the year. Artistic type people that know about NaNo feel like they can come up to you and ask you about your work -- inevitably happens often during the month of November. Far more than it does any other time of the year actually.
I tell you this in a preemptive attempt at defending my own obliviousness.
About an hour ago, this man takes a table near mine. My BFF (Snotty Chicklit Writer) and I have been camped out in Atlanta Bread Company because Smug Mother's Club meets at the cafe on Tuesday and I decided to spare myself that trauma this week. Anyways, he sits down and pulls out a lap top and eventually he starts chatting with me. We chat for about a half hour about writing time and about this book on craft that I read recently that I really enjoyed.
He tells me about a little about himself -- he recently retired after serving 20 years in the Air Force. He enlisted at 18 and he finished his doctorate recently in engineering. I thank him for his service and ask him what he plans to do now that he's retired from the military. He says that he's looking to settle down and get married. I point out some local areas where he can meet women and Snotty Chicklit Writer smirked at me. You realize where this is going right? Because I didn't.
Because he offers me this pretty smile and and raises an eyebrow and says, "Well, I seemed to have decent luck meeting interesting women all on my own. You've certainly brightened my day."
Right.
To be truthful, I'm not a beauty queen or anything. Men don't run from me in horror but that's neither here nor there. I don't get hit on much these days because my wedding ring is rather prominent on my hand. I call it the "symbol of ownership" for a reason. I just stare at him in shock.
So, the BFF rides to the rescue with, "Forgive her, she's so married that when someone hits on her she doesn't even notice. She thought you were really interested in listening to her talk about plot development in the modern fiction novel and not the fantastic way that sweater shows off her tits."
He nods and grins at her. "It's a great sweater." Then he looks at my ring finger and says, "If you were mine--I'd make sure everyone knew it."
The husband took my wedding band and engagement ring to the jewelers to be cleaned because he needed a battery replacement for his watch. Now, I'm kind of pissy because he probably wasn't interested in my opinions about the modern fiction novel and the differences between internal and external plot. He's lucky he's a pretty bastard. And honestly? He's totally my type-- tall, milk chocolate skin, and built. The Cock Provider is lucky I think he's the best thing to ever swing a dick.
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no subject
Date: 2011-11-08 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-08 10:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-08 10:22 pm (UTC)So tell him about it and make him prove that statement.
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Date: 2011-11-08 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-08 10:42 pm (UTC)Thanks for all your sharing with us, be it fic, rant or part of your life.
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Date: 2011-11-08 10:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-08 11:47 pm (UTC).
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*click*
Everything I've read on here today, including the comments above mine.
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Date: 2011-11-09 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 01:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 02:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 02:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 03:29 am (UTC)I recently had a store clerk look me up and down and it took me a good two minutes to stop being offended that he thought I was suspicious enough to watch that closely and realize that he was eyeing me up.
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Date: 2011-11-09 03:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 05:52 am (UTC)My mom once said that your wedding ring could have neon strobe lights and a "whoop whoop" alarm (her exact words, and don't even get me started on the hours of giggling that caused me and my sisters!), and that still wouldn't keep men from making their interest known. Funny, the way it is, isn't it?
I'm sorry, I have to go laugh hysterically about "whoop whoop" alarms now!!!
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Date: 2011-11-09 10:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 12:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 02:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 02:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-09 03:26 pm (UTC)I remain unconvinced.
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Date: 2011-11-09 03:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-10 01:31 am (UTC)got told I did have a boyfriend (at that time) just to be told as long as I didn't wear a sign of ownership I was still on the market
and THEN he spent the next half an hour telling me how big the rock he'd put on my hand would be - while sitting on the moronsingnal tower as NOTHING worked to discourage him /says no 'oh so I really have a chance' /me goes dancing and ignores guy 'wow the makes you even hotter /me walks away 'ohh so you need a drink shall I buy you one' /me hits head against wall 'don't act like you don't like me' /me kicks him 'see you DO like me' /me screams at him 'oh yes it is loud here'
/me hides behind male friend 'so are you trying to see which one of us will offer you the more expensive ring'
some men ...
ending up with him telling me we'd meet for coffee at some place in the city the next morning at 10am and he just knew I would show up
(even if there had been ice-skating in hell and I'd been ok with showing up ... there is no chance in hell I show up voluntary for anything at 10am when it is already 5something am and the night isn't even over yet)
I love the thought of him sitting in that cafe for a couple of hours the next morning with basically no sleep and telling himself that I was just a little bit late ... possibly for the next 3 days as pathetic as he was
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Date: 2011-11-10 12:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-11 05:03 pm (UTC)Although, the two 70 year old guys who were playing chess the next table over and talking smack to each other on Wednesday night... Totally priceless.
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Date: 2011-11-13 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-13 07:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-15 05:20 pm (UTC)(rereading for the smile)
Date: 2011-11-18 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-21 06:10 am (UTC)Being that long in the AF probably neccessitated his need to practice flirting on someone safe. ;-)
Nothing like a back-handed compliment. LOL
no subject
Date: 2011-12-03 06:07 pm (UTC)