Thursday, April 14, 2011

Bathroom Monologue: The Writing Fight


"We’re not having this fight. Was I paying attention? No. I wasn’t. I’m sorry your day sucked, but this novel isn’t going to finish itself. It wouldn’t be mine if it did. Is it more important than you? Of fucking course not. You are more important in the long term. That’s why it’s going to be finished by July, while you and I are death-do-us-part. It is more important in the tonight-term. Is your job more important than me? Probably not, but you still spent nine hours at it today instead of with me. And I’m sorry your manager is a bitch suffering from permanent hot flashes. But the novel is my job. My second job, with zany hours. So sometimes I will stare through you and into space when you’re telling me about your day. Much like you’re staring through me now. Just realize that if you make me sleep on the couch tonight, it’ll be with the pad and pen!"

15 comments:

  1. ahh the life of the writer - brilliant -of fucking course!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I bet this happens a lot. There are probably people out there wondering how you managed to evesdrop.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ha ha! John you write real life so well. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gah! Were you eavesdropping at my house this weekend? :?

    ReplyDelete
  5. File under "things I would like to say sometimes."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sometimes people don't understand why writers write. But if writers don't write, the non-understanding ones would have to turn elsewhere for a lot of their entertainment.

    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You're killing me, you know that?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice, so true. Priorities shift, and knowing when is key.

    I wasn't kicked out to the couch last night, but I think I drooled on my keyboard.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is a bit like sending a kid to his room full of toys as a punishment.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fortunately, I have an incredibly supportive boyfriend, but that doesn't mean this conversation has never happened in our home. #goodwriterbadgirlfriendface

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ahhh...the life of a writer. I've had a few of those stare into space moments myself while significant other is chatting away.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd venture to say that a spouse who is truly supportive of their writing spouse is rare. Writing does seem like a selfish indulgence at times.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Definitely hits close to home! Nicely captured, this feeling.

    ReplyDelete
  15. But JOHNNNNNN. There are so many MEETIIIIINGS! STOP BEING CREATIVE AND LISTEN TO MY FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS DAMMIT

    ReplyDelete

Counter est. March 2, 2008