I don't know about you but I sometimes cringe when someone asks me---"What do you do for a living?" It's a common question especially when you just meet a person but I tend to downplay my answer.
What? Why, you ask?
The reaction.
I'm an interior designer is my answer first. The reaction I usually get is --that is great, how fun that must be, wow, you must work with great people, or you must be very creative. Where all of these are positive and I sort of blush when I receive them I sort of downplay it. I don't know why-I should be proud but to me it is just a job. To me it is something I just do.
Now when I follow it up with --I'm also a writer--the reaction is not always the same. First, I usually get --oh do you write for a design magazine? No, is my response.
"Then what do you write?"
"Well, right now I'm writing a young adult/sci fi romance novel." This is when my eyes squint because I can see that it is processing in their head because their eyes have glazed over.
Now once the haze disappears there are many different responses that can occur.
1. The supporter---will usually ask how long I have been doing this to which I respond for years. I just gained the confidence to pursue it so I'm taking a leap of faith and going for it. It's my passion.
The supporter will gush and smile possibly giving me a hug stating it is great that I'm doing this and good luck!
2. The confused--will ask what young adult, sci fi, romance is. I'll explain and then they will sort of be supportive. Usually a money question will come into play but is not emphasized. The conversation would just continue onto another subject--meanwhile I'm ready to explode with details of my journey so far but I let it go.
3. The blow off--will ask what the confused asked then tell me that it is a difficult field and doesn't luck play into it. They will proceed to tell me there is no money involved totally disregarding that I said it was my passion. They may even throw in that it is nice that I have a hobby. My face turns red in response to the hobby comment.
This is why it took me so long to tell people --confidently--that I write and I'm writing a book. I'm getting better at in fact I sometimes corner people when I talk about it because I'm so excited. I'm sorry if I have done this to you.
It took me a while to get to put on my tough skin but I'm at the point that I just don't care. I'm happy. I know writing comes from deep down in my heart and if people don't like it. Oh well! I have come too far to worry about it. I must use the comments from the neigh sayers to fuel the passion and to prove to them that I just might be able to do this and if I don't then I can at least say I tried. So go for it people don't hide what you love to do. You must take that chance. Learn all you can and write, write, write. You never know what can happen tomorrow.
How long did it take you to tell people that you are a writer and that it was more than just a "hobby"?
How would you react to the (3) types of responses above?
Don't forget tomorrow is Beta Club at Fiction Groupie. Have a great day!
