How to Live with a Writer
By East Sierra Branch, CWC
Members of the Ridgecrest-based East Sierra Branch of the California Writers Club combined their experiences (and grievances) to suggest this list in support of domestic harmony and creative excellence.
Don’t assume that because I am just sitting still and not typing, I am waiting to talk to you. – Elizabeth Babcock
Don’t assume that I will immediately write a book based on some idea you have had. (By the way, this happens to me often wherever I go in Ridgecrest – the grocery store, the movies, you name it. – Elizabeth Babcock
Give me some credit for being trained in writing and don’t assume that writing is much easier for me than it is for you. – Elizabeth Babcock
If I don’t answer your phone call, I may just be neck deep in solving a plotting issue, not ignoring you. – Janis Kunz
Don’t keep asking me if my story is finished yet. If it was, you’ll know. I’ll be talking about it animatedly and nonstop. – Janis Kunz
When you see me working, don’t walk up to me and start talking right away. Give me a minute or two to see you and write down my thoughts before I lose them. – Donna McCrohan Rosenthal
Don’t lean over my shoulder watching the words as they appear on the screen, and never, never ever say, “oh. Change this” or ”ooh, you made a typo.” – Donna McCrohan Rosenthal
If I hand you something on paper, don’ pull out a pen and mark it up and never, never, never proclaim. “Here, I’ve corrected it for you.” Nobody asked you to play teacher grading homework. – Donna McCrohan Rosenthal
No, that character isn’t based on you. No, neither is that one. My lawyers have advised me not to tell you which one is. – Daniel Stallings
It doesn’t encourage me to tell me that my writing has to meet certain qualifications for you to want to read it. – Daniel Stallings
My work is work. Just because you can’t see the reams of writing I have produced on my laptop doesn’t mean I have done nothing all day. – Daniel Stallings
I am like a houseplant. I need light, water, air, and food and am pretty self-sufficient. Don’t yank me out of my comfortable writer place. – Daniel Stallings
I barely have all the time I need to write my ideas down. I don’t need to write your ideas down too. – Daniel Stallings
Sure, I can write about you one day, but you’re probably not going to like what I have to say. – Daniel Stallings
Don’t interrupt my reading. It’s part of my work, because I’m learning and absorbing the music of good writing. – Daniel Stallings