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Catie Murphy
We have a regular cabbie who knows I’m a writer. Which is to say, he knows I write. I have a vague and desperately incorrect assumption that when I say I’m a writer, people take it to mean I’m, you know. Published. Because that’s what *I* mean. But recently in the cab on the way home he said to me, “So will ye be finishin’ yer first book soon?”
“Actually,” I said, somewhat bemused, “my thirteenth book came out in September.”
The man nearly dropped his teeth. After a bit of spluttering with astonishment he asked questions–how do I get paid, and, “I don’t mean to be cheeky, but are ye doin’ well?” Upon being told URBAN SHAMAN has sold some forty or fifty thousand copies, “Jaysus,” says he, “thirteen books! I never met a writer before! And are ye writing the fourteenth?”
More spluttering ensued when I said no, I was writing the nineteenth. “Nineteenth! What happened to the rest of them!” So I explained that some were on their way toward publication and others hadn’t been sold yet, while he goggled in amazement. I said to wait a moment when he’d dropped us off, and I’d give him a copy of one of my books. He said, “Sure and I’ll never read it, but that’d be grand!”
This happens _all the time_. Not with quite so much charm and panache, usually, but the phrase “I’m a writer” does not inspire in the minds of hearers what I mean when I say it. Friends have suggested I say, “I’m a novelist,” or “I’m an author” instead of “writer”, but they both sound ridiculously pretentious to my ear, and besides, the novelist line still pretty much gets you “have you ever had anything published?” response.
In fact, it took me a couple years to finally understand that when people said, “Oh! Can we buy your books at the bookstore?” they were essentially asking if I was self-published. If, in other words, they would have to buy the book directly from me, because that’s as much experience with writers as most people have. Once they understand my books are available at pretty much any major bookstore chain, they’re usually very impressed. By that time, of course, I’ve spent so much time explaining I feel sort of silly, rather than even slightly impressive. 
I know *so many* writers, both published and unpublished, that it’s very easy for me to forget that to most people we’re an exotic breed. And, as a friend of mind pointed out, the Hollywood-created perception is “Of course if you were a *published* *successful* writer you’d be living the high life in your castle on a remote island, not taking a taxi around small-town Ireland,” and so of course when I say I’m a writer I mean I’m a dilettante.
I pretty much suspect that this is a way of life and will continue to be unless my name reaches the same stratosphere as, say, Rowling or King. And frankly, ‘Murphy’ isn’t quite as unique as either of those names, so I’d probably have to explain anyway. I don’t mind, you understand. I just think it’s kind of funny, the difference in what I mean and what people hear…
You offered the guy a book and he said he wouldn’t read it? Really? I just bought Urban Shaman and cannot wait to read it. He could have had it autographed too, possibly. I have to get the rest of the Walker Papers series.
Oh, I don’t care if he reads it. I did give him a (signed) copy, and he admired the cover, but I think he probably doesn’t read books as a matter of habit, so.
>>when I say I’m a writer I mean I’m a dilettante…
Dabble a bit in the arts, do you Catie girl? In yer free time, I mean, between yer exotic trips, yer shoppin’ sprees, and tea wi’ His Grace, Duke of York. (grins)
Oh, and it WAS a signed copy. *sigh* I would have appreciated it a ot more.
Haha, I love his reaction, too funny!
I’ve gotten my sister inspired to write now aswell. I read what she wrote of her first chapter and hokey-dina! It’s amazing! I myself have put off my writing for far too long by using the excuse of my newly injured wrist, but obviously I can still type, it’s just a slower process. How I could even think about stopping at this point I have no apprehension to because I’m so dang close to finishing my first story! I’m going to go write now.
Best regards,
Lily
I run into the exact same thing, all the time (OK, not with cabbies with who say “Jaysus”, but you know what I mean.)
My current description for what I do is “I write novels.” To me, that sounds less presumptuous than “I’m a novelist.” I still get the “any published?” response, but I think I get it less often…
AH, yes after I discovered the Internet community I pretty much forgot that in real life we are pretty rare and when people learn that I am on my third manuscript they are astounded. I am not sure that the first two anything special enough to count, but it’s thousands of words written down and well it’s quite impressive.
I don’t think novelist sounds pretentious at all and it goes back to that other discussion on here where I mentioned that at this moment, I consider myself a writer. When I get a novel completely finished, to the point it’s what I feel, and an agent or editor feels, is a salable item, I’ll consider myself a novelist and will update all my signatures appropriately.
LOL! That’s actually a cute reaction! I say I’m a writer, but I am not published yet, so I don’t think it’d be pretentious for you to call yourself an author or a novelist.
I get the “are you published?” question all the time, and it doesn’t seem to matter how I describe myself — “I’m a writer,” “I’m an author,” “I write novels”. They’re always surprised when I say yes, and even more so when I tell them that number eleven is coming out soon. Frankly, I like surprising them that way; I take a certain smug satisfaction from it. I’m not proud of this, mind you, but it’s the truth.
Honestly, I would find it more amusing han annoying. I can claim this because I am un-published and thus believe _everything_ will sound good when (not if!) I have a book published (much less 13).
It’s also funny for another reason. I do not call myself “a writer”, even if I am in a period of consistent writing. I have always felt it a tad pretentious to speak of being a writer when I am more accurately that “dilettante” of which you speak. However, I feel I _will_ be qualified to use that sentence some day in the future.
And when that happy day arrives, I will–much like David–take no end of satisfaction in pulling the “I am a writer” stunt on anyone and everyone I meet. It will all be good-hearted fun, of course, and I will not be snide or sarcastic… unless I meet someone who says “I’ve always wanted to be a writer/to write a book”, in which case my inner bitch will be unleashed upon this hapless and unsuspecting individual.
Well, that’s my fantasy anyway. It is much more likely I will be embarrassed beyond measure and unable to utter a word. Except in this inordinately pretntious mode of speech in which I am currently engaged. I do not look with anticipation on any publicity events that may ensue from my inevitble rise to author superstardom. /egotistical rambling
Anyway, great story, Catie.
That’s why everyone should go to law school first. Only three years post-grad and I get to say I’m a lawyer to feel impressive.
To feel humble, though, I sometimes tack on that aspiring-writer thing, and dream of the day I can drop the “aspiring” bit.
And, as a friend of mind pointed out, the Hollywood-created perception is “Of course if you were a *published* *successful* writer you’d be living the high life in your castle on a remote island, not taking a taxi around small-town Ireland,”
I keep waiting for this to happen….