December 16, 2010 | By: Tracy

Starved for Writerly Attention



***Query BlogFest entry***


Side note: Crystal Meth makers are the worst! Last night I bought two bottles each of NyQuil & DayQuil. Got that many because 1) I was all out of meds & still dealing with the fever/cold that tried to take me out last week and 2) My Flex Spending benefits for the year are about to expire. They had to scan my license, before they'd sell it to me!! Damn illegal drug engineers have to go and make life difficult for the rest of us.

Anyway. . .

I posted last week about my experience with attending my first real book signing.

What I didn't mention was that day, Misty and I spent more than 5 hours together in my car, plus another two hours at Starbucks prior to the signing. Though we've been blogging buddies for a few months, it was the first time we met in person. With all that time to kill you'd expect there to be a little getting-to-know-you awkwardness, right?

We didn't shut up once.

Seriously, from the moment she hopped in my car one or the other of us had something to say. (I'm chatty and don't apologize for that, btw) Now, you'd think since we were going to a book signing for an author we both absolutely adore, for a book series we love, we would have talked non-stop about those things.

We didn't.  

Instead, we spent pretty much the entire time gabbing about . . . writing!  Stories. Queries. Agents. Betas. Hopes. Fears. Annoyances. You name a topic, we probably covered it.

Good thing too, because we don't do nearly enough of that stuff on our blogs. ;o)

I'm guessing this is pretty normal for writers. Most of us are probably starved to be able to sit down and talk about something we love--for better or worse--with someone who "gets" it.

Do any of you have a writing buddy that you know in in real life?

I'm discovering it's a ton of fun to meet fellow writers in person. Now, I'm actually thinking about joinging an association just so I can find more writerly people who have to talk with me. God help them!

**Weekly reminder to check out Shannon McMahon's Anonymous Critique, if you're so inclined.**

5 witty remarks:

Anne Gallagher said...

I met a writer/blog friend last year and did the same thing. Didn't shut up once. And I could have talked so much longer.

Yes, I believe as writers, we are a special breed and have converstations that no one else would ever have.

I mean really, how do you explain a beta-reader to someone who doesn't write.

LTM said...

I do not have any real life writing buddies, and I wish I did... but I have the next best thing--real life reading buddies, and they're so super supportive. AND I've got real life writing buddies online who are just awesome. <3

Terry Towery said...

You're the only writer-buddy I've met in real life, but as I recall we talked writing virtually nonstop (unless we were talking baseball!).

I can't wait to me more. :)

Carol Riggs said...

Yes, yes! Your regular friends and even your non-writing spouse will not "get" you/your writing 100%, or want to talk nonstop writing chat. I meet with a local group, but most write adult stuff and I write YA. But I'm a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and go twice a year to the local (Oregon) conferences. Have done this for a total of 7 years. Invaluable!

I LOVE attending conferences. I've met so many neat writers, and we can gab all day about writing and not bore anyone. They understand! I've met critique partners that way too.

Saumya said...

Ah, that is so cool. I have yet to meet a writing buddy in person. I imagine that we would talk forever as well. There aren't enough of us out there who do get it! Soo awesome for you :)

Post a Comment