There are some things in my life I absolutely DO NOT care to share with other people. Drinking my first cup of coffee each morning while I scroll through emails and news bits. Taking a long hot shower or bath. My views on politics and religion. Trips to the bathroom. (That last one used to be so much easier before animals and kids…)
Other things in life seem to scream for interaction with like-minded people. Say for instance, the new Sylvia Day book that came out this week, some cool new kitchen gadget you’ve discovered, or the BRILLIANT plot solution you figured out on your way home from the day job.
(Ok, so maybe none of those items appeal to you specifically, but they were a big deal to me.)
What’s a bummer is when you’re all juiced up to squeal over a new supercalifragilistic discovery or development….and the only creature you can find to talk to is a long dead cricket the cat toyed to death and didn’t bother to “clean up”.
I’ve had that happen a few times this week.
The first occurrence was with the plot solution I mention above. My normal go-to girl, T.D. Hart, wasn’t available that day and it was too late to call some of my other writer buds.
Gushing to the hubby would have been on par to meditating with the cricket. So, I shot off a very short missive to the fantabulous Marcy Kennedy who’d been working with me on said manuscript.
I didn’t even get close to the oh-happy-day and dog-wallowing-in-a-patch-of-smelly-grass that I wanted to send. After all, I hired her to beat me and my book into shape, not endure one of my manic bouts of uncontained glee.
She must have sensed my neediness through the stratosphere because she sent me an electronic “Atta girl” shortly thereafter. (Thank God, she doesn’t charge me by the email.)
My next round without an emotional dance partner was with a Goodreads group I’d recently joined. Their Book of The Month selection was for one of my recent favorites, a book completely outside the writing style I normally enjoy but had me setting my entire life aside to finish.
Twice.
I waited with eager fingers until the spoiler ban was lifted, anxious to gush about the book with other people who I was sure would love it just as much as me….
Most people gave the book good reviews, but the very things I loved about it rubbed most folks the wrong way.
I realized pretty quickly, it wasn’t the fact that they didn’t like what I liked that had me down. It was that I’d been waiting to share the love of my discovery with like-minded people.
Sure there are times when I crave silence and the opportunity to soak in a moment all alone. But those times when you can jump up and down like a teenager when the guy you’ve been crushing on asks you to the prom? <Sigh> Those times are priceless. For just a snippet of time, someone gets you.
Over the years, I’ve built up my “Little Crazy Book”, a listing of people to call when special and/or crisis moments happen:
- Someone to call for writing stuff? Check
- Awesome band coming to town? Need to plot revenge (that I’ll never have the guts to carry out)? Check
- New Gadgets/Music/Books? Anyone that’ll listen.
What about you? Do you have your go-to people to call when good/bad news knocks on your front door? Or are you one of those people who can easily keep the combustible glee contained? Is it really contained? Or are you doing your own goofy version of the Macarena in your head?
10 Comments
Maggie Amada
June 6, 2013 at 4:02 pmYou know, I’m thirty-two years old and I’m now starting to put together the list of go-to people. I’ve spent much of my life in solitary.
Anyway, if I may just thank you for reminding me about the new Sylvia Day book. I pre-ordered it ages ago and you had me running to my kindle to download so I can start reading ASAP. Thanks, Rhena.
Rhenna
June 6, 2013 at 6:42 pmBlew through SD in 2 days. Just finished it while I did my daily dance with the elliptical. Gideon. Yum.
T.D. Hart
June 6, 2013 at 4:44 pmWell, damn. What did I miss? (Besides getting to share your breakthrough…)
-T
Rhenna
June 6, 2013 at 6:41 pmJust more of the usual insanity, flickers of squishiness.
kim cleary
June 6, 2013 at 8:53 pmI am afraid I do a very goofy version of the Macarena in my head :/ I really need to get a Go To list organised!
Marcy Kennedy
June 7, 2013 at 9:07 amYou came up with a great solution, and it made me super happy to hear it!
CJ Burright
June 7, 2013 at 10:30 amThere’s nothing worse than watching some Monty Python with someone who just doesn’t get it–laughing your head off when the other person is staring at you like you’re freakin’ insane just puts a damper on the fun. The people who “get you” (or me, at least)are few and far between. Treasure them!
Stacy Teitel
June 7, 2013 at 12:05 pmThat first cup of coffee is indeed sacred.
Aside from writing and critique groups, you’re right. We do need others to share in our crazy and happy moments of life. I have my people I rely on, and I’m thankful when writers know they can trust in me, too. We’re all trying to do something amazing!
Karen McFarland
June 8, 2013 at 11:39 pmRhenna, you seem to have it handled girl. But we writers can be pretty needy sometimes and need back up vibes to keep us on the straight and narrow. Marcy is great for that. Who are my go to peeps? You know, I feel sorry for my DH. He’s my go to person for almost everything. I know he wishes he wasn’t. lol. But we’re best friends. And we trust each other’s opinion. My sister is another go to person. The writing stuff. So far, I haven’t lost it yet. I’ve kept my perspective up till now. Not sure how long that will last. lol. Great post Rhenna! 🙂
Suzanne Vince
June 12, 2013 at 12:25 pmJust catching up on my to-read blogs. I don’t think there’s anyone except another writer that can really appreciate those writing-related moments(good or bad), but we’re here for you! And I’m on the left coast (so Pacific Standard Time) if that helps 🙂