You’re a Writer? So?

I was talking to the guys and gals in my writing group about different people’s reactions when they find out you’re an author, or even a writer for that matter.

Back in the day, there were no authors in my area that I knew about, so if I were to ever come upon one that lived in my neck of the woods, I would have asked for their autograph at the very least,  and then I would have paraded it around in front of anyone.

Seems it’s not so anymore because there are just too many books out there and being an author doesn’t have the celebrity status that authors once shared many moons ago.  Of course, if you’re a top name like Nicholas Sparks or the daughter of a political figure, you do get the notoriety, but we little folks just simply don’t.

Oh, we might have a few fans here and there, but the general reaction when you tell someone on the street that you’re an author, it’s like, “Oh yeah?” and then they go on and talk about the weather or other obviously more interesting topics.

One of the authors in my writing group is a man by the name of Nick Oliva.  He wrote a wonderful book called ONLY MOMENTS and went on virtual tour last month for it.

He had an interesting take on it that I would like to share with you.

He said, “I think it (reasons why people don’t look upon you as celebrity figures anymore) is one of the following depending on the situation:

The Encyclopedia salesman syndrome. People are afraid that you are going to try and sell them a book they don’t want.

People are jealous that you have developed intellect and they haven’t.

People are jealous because they wished they could say that.

People are petty at times and you being an author makes them feel insecure.

People are paranoid and you are the android Amway Salesman to them (no offense to Amway).

You are not on the supermarket checkout racks and therefore they cannot claim they know a larger than life star.

Or, all of the above.”

Interesting points.  I do have one fan in my home town.  A lady who works at the post office.  I moonlight at a restaurant waiting on tables and I was late.  I knew that once I walked into the post office, it would be another ten minutes (if I were lucky) when I could finally walk out and every time I would walk in, she’d ask the same question, “Have you written any books lately?”  God love her little soul.

One day I was particularly late, so when she asked the question again, I told her I wasn’t writing much lately, but was running a virtual book tour company and now all I had time for was working on the tours and reading.

So, the next time I walked in the post office, I thought I could get to work on time, but no, her question then reverted to, “Have you read any books lately?”

But, I am a star in her eyes, no matter whether I’m writing or reviewing and that’s pretty hard to come by even when you’re running late.

Becky Camarena, who runs Chit Chat and All That, has a similar opinion.  She writes, “I don’t tell people except for a few friends that I’m a writer because everyone else looks at me like I have an extra eye in the middle of my forehand. They don’t know what to say, and so they bring
up stupid questions, like what’s your real job? I think it all
depends on the persons perception of reading and books. If people are interested in books, reading, and writers then they treat you differently. Also, educators will not take your for granted. My aunt said upon reading my bio, “I’ve never seen any of your articles in the local paper.” I wanted to say shut up! Would you even recognize my name if it was right there?”

Kathy Strelow, author of HEAD CASE: A ROCK AND ROLL NOVEL, says, “I am a secretary in a high school English Department, and when my first book came out one of the teachers said to me, ‘You’re making us all look bad.  We have college educations.’  1) How do they know I don’t have a college education?  2) So write a book!”

And my most funniest response was from Marilyn Celeste Morris, author of DIAGNOSIS: LUPUS: THE INTIMATE JOURNAL OF A LUPUS PATIENT.  “One which I despise: ‘Oh, I don’t read much.’ If that’s a guy, he’s immediately out of my line of sight. At least my second ex husband liked to read. 

But the funniest one is, ‘You don’t look like a writer!’ Now what, pray tell, is a writer supposed to look like? ROFL.”

Ah well, the glory is in self-fulfullment, but it would be nice if the people we approached would realize how much we go through and would appreciate a nice pat on the back once in awhile.  After all, we ARE stars in our own right, aren’t we?  Of course, we are.  We don’t have to prove a thing but get those bestsellers out there and one day, they’ll be banging down your door and you’ll wish for those inobscure days back. 

Uh, maybe not.