Huzzah! Another post about “writing”! Ok, ok, ok, I know, I get it, but hear me out… yes, it’s about writing again, but, but, but, but… this time it’s a different angle. Huh?? Yeah! That’s right! Do I have your attention now? No? Still feeling like clicking on something else? Hmph. I gave my best. Ok, fine, I gave like 5% of my “best” and we can agree that’s really a “best” in air quotes (or, actual quote quotes, but honestly at this point I’ve lost so many readers, the three of you shouldn’t mind. Look, I’m not in sales for a reason.

I mean, if it helps at all, I wrote this post several different ways and this is the one that stuck. So, you can imagine how bad it could have been before we arrived here.

You’re welcome?

Maybe “Writing” isn’t the best title, because really this is more about “ranting” or maybe “pontificating” or some other -ing verb that’s more appropriate, but my brain can’t currently access the right -ing for this scenario.

So, let’s just get to it.

There’s a saying: “There are no bad questions.” I beg to differ, but in looking to see who I could pin the blame on for this lovely bit of delightfully encouraging idiocy, I found one I genuinely like better by Carl Sagan (…maybe, but it was probably Lincoln, Twain, Einstein, or Pooh, because “You can’t trust the internet” – Lord Byron) Anyway, Sagan said, “There are naïve questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question.”

Fair enough. That said, I do have a least favorite question (which falls under “tedious”).

“What are your hobbies?”

Sure, I understand they’re just trying to get to know me – to find some commonalities – but every time I respond “writing” I feel a bit judged. (I’m sensitive, and possibly a wee defensive, but only a “wee” which is arguably smaller than a “bit” if I’m the one arguing.) And it’s not that writing is a bad hobby; it’s a great hobby. If we could just leave it there, and acknowledge it with a slight head bob that says, “I know you made words, and I understand those words” that’d be fantastic. However, it’s never just left there. “A writer!” Which is always followed with enthusiastic questions. “Are you a novelist? reporter? Are you published? Where would I have seen your work?” Then I witness their hopeful supportive little faces fall when I respond, “I have a blog.” Every time. *womp*womp*. Like I made an oopsie in the writing pool. It’s the same reaction I’d expect to receive if I’d responded, “Oh, I’m glad you asked. I’m an avid Mad Libber!! The words I choose – HILARIOUS! Some people will tell you it’s about the topic, but they’re wrong, it’s all in the word choices I make and truthfully or as Hamlet once said, ‘I have the best words’” or “Well Susan, I’m actually a bathroom-stall poet. You might know me from the Women’s Stall #3 at the Hard Rock Cafe New Orleans! Some of my best work is there. Beans beans the magical fruit… This guy over here knows it. Hey guy, yeah that was me! I also did a series of those little hearts with ‘B+LS 4EVER!’ the ‘LS’ is obviously for Luke Skywalker. I mean, he used to bull’s-eye womp rats in his T-16 back home *SWOON* I still love that hero! Keeping the galaxy safe from womp rats. Fun fact – it’s actually why their population hasn’t exploded here. I love non-fiction, don’t you?”

That’s one typical reaction I’ve received.

Another – I once joined a writing group where everyone was working hard to be published, and we’d sit around and read our latest pieces. The second or third time I read one of my stories, another writer looked over and said quite flatly, “oh, another personal anecdote.”

I quit before I was ousted.

I get a similar reaction if I mention “orchestra” or “archery.” People want to hear the stories that demonstrate that I’m at a more advanced level, which seems a bit unfair for something that falls under “hobby.”

If you haven’t read “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum (I was tempted to credit Kierkegaard for fun, but I’ll let it go) you should. There’s a story (parable?) about asking children who among them can draw, dance, sing, or write where nearly every child raises their hand and responds excitedly that they can. When the same question is posed again to an older audience, people qualify their answers, and few raise their hands. As you go up in age, the number of hands raised becomes even fewer. “What went wrong between kindergarten and now? Whatever happened to ‘Yes! Of course, I can!’?”

These higher standards we put on ourselves make us feel like we need to say we can’t dance, sing, draw, or even write because we’re not at a professional level, we also are putting on others. So when I say “I write,” even with the qualifier that it’s my hobby, I’m not considered a writer by most adult standards. Much like I’m not a musician by that same measure.

What if we just accepted and celebrated our hobbies and those of our friends without needing it to be more? When you ask me about my hobbies, know that I sing, I dance, I draw, I act, I am a musician, and I am a writer, and so are you and so are your family and friends.

I’ll tuck away my soap box now. – Susan B. Anthony

(Proof from last Spring that I’m not a musician… oh wait, maybe we (or you) need to rethink hobbies?? Seriously though, I loved this concert. I love all of our concerts and I hope the latest concert posts soon so I can share it with you; it was fantastic. The people I am fortunate enough to perform with are fantastic musicians and lovely people, and our conductor is the best I’ve had. Understand, once upon a time I was a decent player in decent groups, so that says a ton.)