My friend keeps telling me to be “careful with my blog.” As I’m trying to be brave, she’s trying to stop me from being a word-slinging idiot. As it turn out, she’s right…maybe not about the blog, but about the word-slinging idiot part.
Two nights ago I went to my first author reading. Shauna Niequist suggested this book by Donald Miller on her blog. The next day I see in the paper that Donald Miller is coming to town. I think this is a cool sign. So I buy the book, call a friend who I think would also appreciate it, and mark it on the calendar.
Now Donald Miller (and Shauna) are classified as “Christian writers.” Since I am being careful with my blog, I won’t say much more other than I don’t read or own a lot of books by Christian writers. Anne Lamott was up until now, my entire Christian library. But I loved Shauna’s book (loved it) and I had a good feeling I would like Donald Miller’s book, too. And I did. It’s a very thoughtful book that I almost enjoyed more after I read it than I did while I was reading it. Also very thankfully, it’s not preachy.
The reason I make the disclaimer on Christian writers is that also touring with Donald Miller is another CW named Susan E. Isaacs. I hadn’t read her book. I did sit down with it at the bookstore and liked what I read. I also went on her website and found it witty and honest (my favorite combination). Finances being what they are in my house, I didn’t buy her book. I had to make a choice last week — a new book, or fruits and vegetables? I chose fruits and vegetables, but only because we’re heading into flu season.
Two nights ago, we go to the reading. I didn’t know what an author would do at a reading (hello, I know). I guess since I paid for a ticket and authors are like rock stars to me, I think I was expecting Bono to come out, sing a few songs and then tell me how he got to be Bono. This is what I was most excited about…how an author gets through writing a book. What does that feel like?
So out walks Susan Isaacs with very little introduction. The room is quiet. She is petite with blond hair and a great necklace, which I’m totally fixated on. Without any warm-up she just launches into reading her book.
Susan is also a comedian and an actor. Her reading was like watching Tina Fey do a one-woman show. Characters emerge in different voices, she shouts, she pauses, she waves her arms around (I notice her triceps don’t jiggle). She reaches a dramatic crescendo and then breaks character and says something like “and if you want to know more about what happens, you’ll have to buy my book.” And she walks off the stage. Wait, what?
I’m waiting for the secret. I’m waiting for her to pass on the wisdom. I want her to take questions. Plus, the whole time she’s up there all I can think of is – holy shit. After you write a book, you have to go on a book tour and stand under florescent lighting and expose yourself even more than you do on the pages. How do you do that?
I whisper to my friend, “Have you ever been to an author reading before? Is this all they do – read from their book?” She leans over and says, “I don’t know, but I think so.” Now I’m bummed. I want the secret. I want to hear about the process, the part about how Bono becomes Bono.
Next Donald Miller comes out. He’s more handsome than I expected — like a cross between John Corbett and Dane Cook. He doesn’t read, but he does recount the premise of his book with such accuracy, that twice, I open my book to see if he’s actually reciting it verbatim. He does inject a few, “Okay, I don’t normally tell this story, but…” and I nearly fall off my metal chair because I’m leaning so far forward. Give me more skinny, more dirt, more, more.
Then they turn the lights up even brighter and he answers three questions (one from a guy wearing a silk vest, which I’m totally fixated on). Then Bono walks off stage. No encore. The show is over.
We leave, and the next day I go on his blog and leave a comment telling him I enjoyed his presentation and ask him the question I was too scared to ask the night before. But because I’m running to deliver birthday treats to my daughter’s class, I don’t think about what I’ve written. I just hit send and leave. Also I link my comment to my blog. I have no idea why. I guess I want to see if a rock star would read my blog.
This morning, I see Susan Isaacs has left a comment on my blog (see post below). She sounds deflated? pissed? uppity? because in my comment to Donald Miller I thanked him for not “just reading” his book. Now this is the word-slinging part. The word “just” before “reading.” I send her an email apologizing that I didn’t mean it as a slight to her. I simply meant it as a thank you to him for giving me a little bit, just a wee bit, of dirt.
It’s not the end of the world. But all I can think of it how hard it would be to stand up there, baring your soul and triceps under very unflattering lighting. And she did it brilliantly — only to be on a tour bus the next day feeling momentarily bad about her performance. This makes me feel momentarily bad. I might have totally bummed out a rock star.
On the other hand…a rock star read my blog. Hey, yay!
Oh, girl! I can sympathize with your fear of offending! I wrote a blog post several weeks ago that earned me a very angry response from a reader [and worse, someone I know personally--in "my world."] It’s hard to let go of those guilty feelings and wishing you could go back and drop a word here, add another there. Plus, I don’t like the pressure of sitting down to write and having to re-read something 50 times to make sure there isn’t anything that can be misinterpreted or misconstrued!
I loved Shauna’s book, too; she used to work at my church, so I’ve spent time with her and can tell you she is so absolutely generous and genuine. A wonderful person!!
Lastly, I don’t know if all book tours are like the one you saw. You could be right–maybe they are. But I saw Rob Bell this summer for his “Drops Like Stars” tour and although there wasn’t time expressly for questions, it was very interactive. He’s not “preachy,” either–it was a great evening. Have you read “Velvet Elvis?”
Be encouraged that as a writer, you’re allowed to be truthful with your thoughts, and even if Susan didn’t *like* what you wrote, it certainly doesn’t sound like you were at all *offensive.* And, Hooray! She READ YOUR BLOG! Gold star for you
Thanks!
You can’t please everyone. If you’re going to be a genuine writer you can only please yourself. I love your blog, so glad rock stars stop by!
Forget the rock stars, so glad you stop by.
Okay, I admit it. I’m sensitive and I find I’m sometimes easily offended. I used to exhange comments with another blogger. Her comments were always so sweet and comforting and yet I’d often find myself offended after reading her blog.
I know she didn’t mean to offend me, I was just being overly sensitive, but over time I stopped reading because I couldn’t prevent my feelings from being hurt.
Not really sure where I’m going with all that. But just try to find comfort in the fact that your intentions were never to offend her and some people (myself included) are sometimes overly sensitive and there’s just no help for us.
I think we were seperated at birth — no help for me eigher, most days (unless you count the drugs, which are mucho helpful). Now I need to know what sweetly offensive blogger you are referring to…come on, spill.
First of all, I’m convinced that Stephanie is talking about me and now I’m afraid I may have offended her, which pretty much negates what I’m about to say but whatever.
I agree with the other comments that when you write, you are extremely likely to offend someone, somewhere, with something that you say. Most likely, that will be something you never thought in a million years could possibly offend anyone ever. Like the comment you left on his blog, which didn’t mention her at all, and wasn’t directed at her, or intended to be read by her, and yeah. Susan, I’m sure you are a delightful person and a talented writer, but I’m going to go with oversensitive on this one.
Where was I?
Oh, yes. Often, when I read books about writing, which I frequently do when I am procrastinating about writing, they will talk about the bravery involved. It took me a long time and many blog entries to get what they meant, but I finally do. THIS is what they mean. Once the words are out of your head, they are beyond your control and giving up that kind of control does take a certain amount of courage. So, buck up li’l writer. You are doing it right.
Thanks, C’aptn. Bravery is new to me…which is gross considering I am 44, but hey? It’s only mid life.
Writers on all levels are a quirky bunch, I think.
I’ve been to a few author visits and I think they are all different. One for John Berendt was held in a big auditorium and only a few folks could ask questions afterward. Berendt seemed a bit irritated with us as an audience. Many of us who’d looked forward to his visit were a little disappointed. Another for Joyce Carol Oates, whom I adore as a writer, was very cozy and informal. I talked to her afterward and probably made a fool of myself! The most recent two I attended were very informal, more like a book group meeting than an author visit. I suppose it all depends on the writer’s status in the publishing world.
OMG – You TALKED to Joyce Carol Oats?! Dude, you are a. rock. star.
Congratulations on winning a blogging award! Tell us more!
In addition to your wonderful qualities you listed, you must add: smart, intuitive, thoughtful, kind, a great friend and a fantastic writer.
Awwww. Right back at ya. Except in addition to qualtities above, you are a fantastic PAID writer, which makes you a rock star, too.
Never been to an author reading either, but sounds like it might make for an interesting night. I wouldn’t worry about your comment — you can’t please everybody even when you try!