What Writers Really Mean When They Say… ;-)
There’s a lot to be said for being a writer. There’s no dress code, you have an excuse to ignore people if you want to, and you’re expected to be a little – er – eccentric and eat an unhealthy diet. Oh, and you have the perfect alibi when you’re doing online searches that people might find, well, odd, or questionable. And hey, I mean, people pay you to make stuff up. It’s a pretty good life. But writers do need to communicate with the outside world at times, especially when they’d like to sell their books. That can present a challenge, even for people like writers, who are wordsmiths by nature. Most writers don’t want to be outwardly rude, so they may say things that don’t always reflect exactly what they’re thinking. This can lead to misunderstandings. After all, other people don’t always think the way writers do.
I believe the solution might be for writers and other people to learn how to communicate with each other. Let’s start with this handy guide. Hopefully, it’ll help writers respond to other people’s questions and comments in a ‘normal people’ way and help other people to understand what a writer really means. Take a look and let me know what you think.
| What People Say | How Writers Respond | What Writers Mean |
| Ooh, is this your new book? Tell me the story. | It’s a crime novel with an amateur sleuth. | You’re holding the book. Take it to the front, pay for it, and find out for yourself. |
| I read your book. | Oh, I’d love your feedback. | Only if you’re going to say something nice. Otherwise I don’t think I can handle it. |
| I’ve got the whole plot for your next novel. How about this?…… | Thanks for that idea. | I wouldn’t touch that muddle with a ten-foot pole. |
| You really should have had A be the murderer instead of B. Oh, and…. | Those are interesting thoughts. | Why not take your thoughts and write your own book? (Unless the speaker is an editor or a beta reader, etc.) |
| Oh, you’re a writer! So, what’s your real job? | I write crime fiction – mystery novels. | *Mentally banging head against wall* |
| Wow, you have a new book out! Can I take one to see if I like it? | You sure can. They’re [price] each. | No, you cannot just take merchandise. Pick a copy, take it up front, and pay for it. |
| Can you write me a book about [ ]? | Oh, sorry – I’m working on something else just at the moment. | Sorry, I am not a vending machine. |
| Writing’s easy, isn’t it? I mean, how hard is it to type some words? | *Insincere smile* There’s a little more to it than that. | Hmm, let’s see…months of writing and research, months of revising and editing, preparing for publication, promo, and that’s not including cooking, shopping, and…..I need a drink. |
| Oh, you’re a writer? Must be great to have so much time on your hands. I wish I did. | *Insincere smile* Writing keeps me pretty busy, actually | I get up at 3:30am so I have time to write and still eat, see my family, and sometimes do some laundry. |
Got any other suggestions? I’m always open to good ideas for communicating with the outside world.
Crime Writer Margot Kinberg 