A Writer's Family and Friends

We writers are like other people. We have family members and friends and a host of acquaintances. We're also different from those in our lives who are not writers. Sometimes, they don't understand us. 

They wonder why we occasionally look like a mannequin in a store window--lifeless, staring straight ahead. Little do they know that inside, our mind is churning with the possibility of a new story. Something, or someone, inspired us and set us into dream mode.

They cannot fathom why we aren't able to walk by a bookstore without stopping to browse--and perhaps make a purchase. Or why we writers are such big library patrons.

How many journals can one person own? they might ask us. They don't know that we writers like anything that gives us space to write. Note paper and stationery comes into play here, too. Most of us like to send greeting cards because we can write on them. Not only our name but lovely notes, as well. We practice our prose in myriad places. 

Writers are one of the biggest groups of readers. We learn from other writers by reading their books. We admire the prose of other writers and store tidbits in our minds. We can bypass many activities that others in our family love but we don't give up reading time. Of course, many nonwriters are big readers, too. Good thing as writers depend upon them! But writers read with a different perspective and perhaps a deeper appreciation. 

Some of our friends and family members have no understanding of why a writer can spend hours holed up in a small room tapping a keyboard and be in a state of bliss. Nor do they realize why we sometimes get angry when we come up against a brick wall in something we are writing and show it in some ridiculous way. Maybe a temper tantrum. Or pacing. Or swearing a blue streak. Or shedding a few tears while pulling at our hair. Oh yeah, we all do those things now and then.

When we get a rejection, our nonwriter family and friends try to be understanding, pat you on the back and say things like Maybe next time. The truth is that they have no concept of what writers experience with multiple rejections. Only another writer has empathy for that situation. 

Nonwriters don't get why we stay on our writing journey when we are not successful on every try. There's no way to explain the passion within that keeps us writing. That's alright. It's your journey, one that you chose and one that you will continue. 

We love our family and friends, we enjoy our acquaintances but the writer part of us is totally different from all of them.

Note:  Next week I have several Guest Bloggers. They are writers who will tell us why they write and a few other things, too.