To Love A Writer

 

I’ve been a full time freelance writer for a little over two years now, and part time before this for going on ten.  I honestly think I could do this for the next twenty years and my family still would be unable to describe what it is I do.  When asked, they generally say one of the following:

1.  She writes stuff.
2.  She sells stories on the internet.
3.  She’s like a writer, I guess, but not books.

For some time my genre was true crime and it was nothing for me to have autopsy photographs and crime scene reports scattered about the kitchen table, under our bowls of Cheerio’s. The family grew accustomed to random Post-It notes with murder details stuck to the oddest places – including the coffee maker.  I spent a brief stint helping a website with their content needs on early punk rock music.  At almost 40 I was feeling “Raw Power” with Iggy and the Stooges, and  learning to imitate the infamous Pogo with the Sex Pistols.

With Hunter S. Thompson as a hero, it only stands to reason that my behavior may tend to sway toward the absurd and excessive.  Yet when I informed the husband I needed to purchase a pig’s head for theory testing, he had the audacity to want an explanation!  Swine skin and bone is the most like our human skin and bone.  I needed to see if a particular tool could render a certain type of wound.  Morbid, perhaps.  But I can’t present a theory unless I have supporting research to back it up!

In time the family learned the tell tale signs that I was “working”, as opposed to playing on MySpace.  If I’m playing, they get a muttered “uh huh” and complimentary nod of my head in response to their questions.  If I’m working, they get shot the look of death, and a wave of my hand to dismiss them.  The husband learned to tolerate late nights without me, and cranky mornings with me.  The children adapted to microwave foods and paper plates.

When one of my written works sells, and the occasional accolade comes my way, I may appear overly humble in accepting it.  The reason isn’t because I feel my work unworthy.  The reason is because the true accolade is owed to the ones who love me enough to humor me on this crazy career I’ve chosen!  Behind every successful writer is someone who has always loved them and thought they were the greatest – long before they ever became published.

Angela Swanlund is the owner of Rural Family Living, LLC and the Creator of The Written Word Blog.  You can view Angela’s on-line portfolio at: http://www.stonecastwoman.com.

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