Do you sneak off to write?

            Or do you go to work?

            After being involved in the romance writing industry for 6 years --has it really been that long?-- I finally received my first person --not kidding-- that mocked me as “one of those writers.”  Seriously, I was prepared. It didn’t faze me, but it did get me to thinking...  Why haven’t more people ever thought my husband was supporting my writing habit?

            So back to my encounter...

            I was at my daughter’s high school, one of the band director’s wives asked how my writing was going and when I was going to bring her a copy of my manuscript (she stated “book”).  My reply: life was making it difficult to meet the deadlines I’d set for myself, my agent wanted a partial and the synopsis was giving me fits --yes, I’m writing this article instead of finishing that same synopsis. But I’d print her a copy in the next week or so. 

            Now, the orchestra teacher (male) was nearby and stated: “Oh, I didn’t know you were a writer. What do you write? Can I get a copy?”

            “Romantic suspense. I have an agent, but I’m not published yet.”

            “Oh, you’re one of those,” he said and seriously turned up his nose (literally) and faced his computer again.

            Without blinking an eye, I replied, “Yeah, if you mean I want to be a part of more than 50% of all fiction sold worldwide. Yeah, I’m one of those.”

            “Really? That stuff is that popular?” He looked at me again and didn’t have that silly grin on his face any more.

            “Uhm, yeah.”

            “I’m just going by what my girlfriend reads. That stuff really isn’t reliable. They never seem to have their facts straight.”

            “I don’t know which author she’s reading, but I spend a lot of time researching and getting my facts right and concentrating on the relationship. You know, relationships are really hard to write about, the suspense is the easy part.”

            “So that’s why you can come up here all the time?” he asked, seeming to accept my answer.

            “Well, I work at home 7 days a week. I go to my office just like you, but I do it every single day. Even while we’re having this conversation, my mind is brainstorming my next move in the book.”

            “Hmmm, that’s interesting.”

            I could see he’d been swayed. His attitude changed right before my eyes. Amazing. 

            I know several authors who write under a different name because they have to protect their day job. Yes, protect their job. This saddens me. The romance industry has made leaps and bounds from the bodice rippers of the 70’s. This is RWA’s 25th anniversary and a year for everyone to come out of the closet.

            YES !!  I go to work every day -- 24/7/365.

            My family even says “I go to work,” “I’m working,” “You need to work,” “Are you working this morning?”  

            So I ask again...do you sneak off for writing time? Or do you go to work?  

Angi Platt is a 2004 Golden Heart finalist in romantic suspense. She’s a contest winner, coordinator, has served in two RWA chapters and on the national board. She’s in charge of volunteers for the 25th RWA national conference literacy signing in Reno this year.  She also has a life outside writing  -- band, softball, PTA...  Hopefully, by the time you read this, she has mailed her partial and synopsis to her agent.

Copyright 2005 Angi Platt -- all rights reserved, please obtain written permission before use.