Writing stories
Writers have different stories in their lives and in their heads, so writing stories takes on many forms. I recently starting, or restarting, writing articles about single moms. This blog is where I write stories about writing. My myriad of online and paper notebooks is where I write stories that come out of nowhere, or somewhere else.
I decided to write the single mom stories specifically when someone suggested that “my story” was of being a single mom. “No it’s not,” I said. “Yes it is,” she said. “No it’s not,” I said. “Yes. It. Is.” she said.
Crap, I thought. She’s right.
I was leaving out part of my story as I traversed my days. While my articles and essays always revolve around being a single mom or parenting in general or life in general from the view of a single mom…the topic specifically is something I have only written stories about a few times.
I’m living it, why the hell would I want to write about it?
And then I thought about writing stories — how I could approach this topic the way I approach every other one — sometimes with gusto and sometimes with reluctance. How I could take being a single mom and turn it upside down and inside out and get it out there. Not always heart-gut-wrenching and not always funny, sometimes matter of fact. Sometimes mundane.
But as we all know, mundane is in the eye of the beholder.
I’ve read many posts about how writers don’t tell people what they do because either the other person glazes over in boredom or wants to collaborate and share royalties. Everyone thinks they should write a book and if you tell them you’re a writer, chances are, they also think you could write it for them.
I have found, that for the most part, saying I’m a writer evokes a response of “Oh.” Maybe that’s because people are reticent to delve and ask more. I frankly think it’s because they really don’t care. But when I say I’m divorced, and if the conversation gets around to the details (which doesn’t always happen, thank goodness), that story doesn’t get an Oh, it gets an Oooh or an Omigod.
I honestly try to avoid both topics which often leaves me ill-equipped for mingling. (Thank God, because I hate mingling. Small talk makes me itch.)
In my FD of my WIP I do weave this topic through the story. That’s what makes it honest and forthright even though the story is a fiction, because the viewpoint is real. And I’m hoping that this too, is something that will make people say Oooh and Omigod and not Oh.
What about you makes people say “Oh?” What about you makes people say “Oooh.” What’s your story?
“Oh” = Talking about freelancing or mundane parenting/marriage/relationship issues.
“Ooooh” = Same topics with huge dollops of humor, juicy details, and wanky POV.
A great Web site.
Definitely my music. People are amazed that we did what we did and that we’re still doing it. Also, I don’t get that glazed over “oh” when I say I’m a writer. I get asked what I write about. The “artist” in me seems interesting to other folks. I get a lot of, “I wish I could sing, or write songs, or play an instrument, or write a book…” I also get a major big “oooh!” when I’m asked, “So, how many cats do you have?” and I answer, “Only six!”
Angie,
Absolutely!
Debbie,
You must know nicer people than I do!
People say, “Oh,” when I tell them I have a blog.
They say, “Ooooh!” when I tell them I am an Alpaca Breeder, or that my husband is a Sculptor who creates bronze monuments.
When I was a Clinical Psychologist, people used to “Ooh!” when I told them that. Half wanted me to analyze them, the other half was afraid I would.
BTW, can’t wait to read your single mom stories!
Oddly enough, I’ve gotten a pretty good response when I tell people I’m a writer. When I say I’m a copywriter for my day job, they often don’t know what the heck I do, so I explain it. But when I tell them I’m a novelist, also, they usually think it’s pretty cool.
Good post, Amy!
I don’t know that anyone says “Oh?” or “Oooh” about me, but this post comes at a good time as I’m trying to define those things about myself and what I want to do or say with my writing. Thank you.
I get a simple “Oh,” when I tell people I’m either a stay-at-home mom or a freelance writer.
When I say I’m a SAHM during the day and a writer at night, however, they’re considerably more impressed. I get a lot of, “How do you find time to get it all done?” I don’t have the heart to tell them how disorganized I really am!
Alpaca Farmgirl, you have a lot to OOOH about! And you can click some of those links to read my stories, in between Alpaca duties, of course!
Melissa, I’m starting to think that’s it my delivery of the fact that I’m a writer that might be lacking!!
Chris, You’re welcome. It’s hard to answer that on the fly, isn’t it?
L.C, Hey that’s impressive to me too. Once night time hits, I’m useless!
Thanks to all for chiming in!
Let’s not forget that the current champion on “Jeopardy” is an un-employed free-lance writer. And now that he’s made over $100,00 on the show, he’d got something to talk about because you know saying “I’m a free-lance writer” gets the same response as saying “I work in the toll-booth on the New York State Thruway.”
That said, if I tell people I’m a writer, they glaze over. If I say I wrote three novels, I get a few, “Oh’s?” But when I tell them I’m blind in one eye, then I get the “No way! Really?”
But, being a writer is lost on the current culture. Go back forty years and maybe you’d get more serious responses.
I’m still trying to figure it out…you’re so lucky you had someone point yours out to you. Can you have her call me?
Amy, that’s great you’re taking this step.
It’s struck me that everyone wants to know about why we’re in Mexico and the sacrifices I’ve made for my husband. I don’t see it that way so it gets frustrating when others tell me my life is “exciting”, etc. It doesn’t seem that way to me – far from it. We have the same issues as everyone else (plus the random gunshots, of course) but deep down I know I’ll end up writing more about this time someday.