To Be or Not to Be…”The Writer” At the Party

Karen Harrington

Absolutely true comments made to me at a recent party after the host introduced me as a writer.

Guest: Oh, what’s your book about?
Me: A family tragedy. A husband is shocked to learn his gentle wife has committed murder and begins looking for clues about impulsive violence in her family tree.
Guest: Ooooooh. Maybe the next one will be more hopeful.
[Goes in search of dip.]

Guest: Where do you get your inspiration?
Me: I like exploring the perspective of being the fly on the wall when something happens.
Guest: My ex-husband is a psychopath. Now there’s a story.

Guest: Really? You wrote a book? I have a great story. Let me tell you about it. . .
[Ten minutes tick by]
Me: Really? You should write that. You have a lot of passion for it.
Guest: No, this needs to be told. These people ripped people off. They were bad people.
Me: So you quit?
Guest: No way. It’s a good company to work for.

Guest: Your book is about generations? Let me tell you about mine. I know I just met you but. . .
Me: [accepts grateful drink from passing waiter]
Guest: Okay, so I wasn’t my father’s favorite child.

Guest: A book? A big person book?
Me: Uh, yes.

This got me to thinking: I wonder what kind of responses artists of all disciplines receive when they are introduced as The Writer. The Painter. The Photographer. The Sculptor.

So tell me, what’s the most interesting thing someone has asked or said to you?

Karen Harrington is the author of JANEOLOGY (spring 2008). Visit her at www.karenharringtonbooks.com