from depts.washington.edu
Recounting his experiences during his reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica for his book The Know-it-all, journalist AJ Jacobs found himself inserting into everyday conversation the numerous obscure factoids he’d discovered. Not surprisingly, he soon earned the nickname ‘the great conversation stopper.’
I’m not so much of a factoid dropper–not so much as AJ in the Brittanica days, at least. And I certainly avoid classic know-it-all topics like weaponry, war, Soviet era trivia, bears, beets, and Battlestar Galactica. What I’ve found, though, is that working from home, as a freelance writer, no less, is one of the greatest conversation stoppers around.
Last night, for instance, I attended a service awards banquet put on by my husband’s company. It’s a nice event; we attend on service anniversaries that are multiples of 5 (this year marks my husband’s 15th year at the company). It’s a rare occasion to meet coworkers and their spouses. And it’s also a rare opportunity to resolve that age-old dilemma of whether or not, after you’ve hugged everyone else at the table, to hug the boss. (I hugged.)
I’m somewhat known around the community for a family humor column that I wrote in the local newspaper; the column ceased publication about 6 months ago, but it’s funny how many people still tell me, “I love reading your column!” That aside, when the column came up at the table last night, I broke the (very late-breaking) news that I no longer write for the paper, but that I still freelance. Doing what, they asked. Medical writing, for pharmaceutical training, mainly.
Silence. Next topic.
What’s going on there? Is it too obscure a field? Is it too abstract, too surreal, too hard to imagine a writing application that isn’t fiction, reporting, or the liner notes to the latest Pink Floyd collection? I, for one, once met an author and former NPR producer at a book festival a couple of years ago, and I was so giddy you would have thought I was talking to Keith Richards. I’ve always thought, doesn’t everyone want to be a writer? And isn’t it amazing to meet someone who actually gets paid for it?
Alas, no.
I’m OK with it, though. I know I don’t live a glam life, writing from my fabulous, million dollar, minimalist apartment that overlooks the French Riviera. I’m just here in Dover, Delaware pounding the keys. But I’m just vain enough that I’d like for someone to show some interest, and not the kind of interest that goes, “You’re not a doctor, are you?!!?!? Then how do you have the QUALIFICATIONS to write about MEDICINE?!??!!?!”
OK, maybe silence is better than the alternative.
How’s this for an alternative to the alternative, though? The other day I had lunch with a neighbor, friends, and fellow carpool Mom whose true crime history of Susanna Cox is right now at the publisher’s and poised for production. It was so much fun to be a cheerleader for someone who’s been laboring in obscurity lo these many months–so much so that no one else in the ‘hood even knows she’s a writer. Cheers to you, Trish, and congratulations. And thanks for being a work-from-home writer-buddy. The world may not understand…or care…but at least we’ve got each other.
-Cheryl
Tags: AJ Jacobs, Freelance Writing, Lonely Jobs, The Know-it-all, Writer, Writing