There's a certain kind of writer that comes to see me at my booksignings. These people show up with no intention of buying my books. They come to pick my brain. They want to know how to cut corners to get published. (These people also like to IM me when I'm on facebook or send me emails.)
This kind of thing is inevitable. I'm used to it, and so is just about every other author who does these appearances. But these writers also have a trait that really, really annoys me. First and foremost, they don't write. I mean it. They come and monopolize your time, stealing your attention from real fans of your work to tell you they have the greatest idea for a book or a movie, and yet they don't have time to actually sit down and write it. Why? They're busy.
Here's a newsflash, guys (and it's almost always a guy), I'm busy, too. But somehow, I always manage to find time to write. I did that when I had a full-time and part-time job, too. What are you doing that keeps you from writing in your non-working life? Watching TV? Sports? I know you're not sitting around reading, because then you might actually do some research to find out what you need to do to get your non-existent work sold.
And another thing that bothers me; you ask for my advice. I give it to you from the heart. I even write it down for you. Then you come to the next signing, ask for the same advice, and when I give it to you, you tell me, "You already told me that." And did you look into that writers group? follow a certain author's (or agent's) blog, or even apply your butt to your computer chair and your fingers to a keyboard? The answer you give me is a sheepish, "Uh, no."
Now I have a request to make of you guys: please don't waste my time. And don't waste another author's time and patience, either. It's just plain rude.
And what's bugging YOU today?
That only happened to me once. A guy. But he came back into the store a few minutes later and bought my book, so it worked out for both of us. What you describe would drive anybody crazy.
Posted by: Deb Baker | October 29, 2009 at 02:39 PM
I went to a friend's signing last week and a guy showed up to pick her brain. He'd already been to two of my signings. This afternoon I made the mistake of answering an IM by another local wanna-be writer, again asking me for the same advice he'd asked for at one (or two?) of my signings. I gave it to him and he said, "you already told me that" and he hadn't followed up--we're talking 8 months later. Grrrrrrr.
Posted by: Lorraine | October 29, 2009 at 02:43 PM
|Oh boy, Lorraine! I can sure sympathize. I never mind giving advice to people who are really doing their best to write, but this other species? Sheesh. The worst is when you can see the people who are waiting to buy your book drift off because they can't get near you!
Good luck with Book Plate Special! I'll pick up mine very soon.
mj
Posted by: Mary Jane Maffini | October 29, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Would it be bad form to take your husband or brother with you to the signings? Sometimes a little masculine eye contact can restore decorum.
I'm looking forward to Special, too!
Lyn
Posted by: Lyn Washington | October 29, 2009 at 04:36 PM
Yep. You struck a chord with me. Worse are what I call "peripheral friends" (i.e. not close enough to invite to your home but close enough that one can't flat out say "no.") They ask advice and you give it; then they actually hand over about 50 grim pages and "can you read this and let me know what you think?"
Um. I'm a bit busy holding down a full-time job and writing my own manuscript - but sure ... I'll take a peek. Hours later (I'm a sucker) I hand over a few notes but a MONTH later you ask how it's going and the reply is, "Oh, I'm working on something else." grrrrr.
Posted by: Hannah | October 29, 2009 at 04:38 PM
This is SO true, Lorraine. It's happened to me a few times and I really felt trapped. I'm thinking next time I'll give them a card and ask them to email me. Bleh.
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth Spann Craig | October 29, 2009 at 05:48 PM
Very frustrating Lorraine! I've discovered over the years that there are quite a few people really just like the idea of writing a book but are probably never going to do it. Oh, well. I'm so glad people like you continue to be patient, because every once in awhile we help a writer who actually does get published eventually--and that's so satisfying!
Posted by: Meredith Cole | October 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM
What bugs me..people who ask for help and don't say please or thank you.
Posted by: Rob | November 01, 2009 at 02:17 AM