McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
A Novelist's Social Life
blgarver:
I always wondered what kind of circles of friends successful authors keep. I assume they must hang with the friends they had before they were published and famous. But what about all the new people they meet as a result of their fame?
For instance, having met Mr. Butcher, it seems like he would fit seemlessly in with my friends and I. We have a small group, we're all writers, and all we talk about is movies and books and writing...and Jim Butcher. His sense of humor is the same as ours...which is one of the reasons we love his books so much...and he doesn't seem to have an inflated ego because of his success.
However, I have to assume that successful writers don't hang out with their fans outside of signings and things like that...and furthermore probably frown upon fans asking them to lunch or whatever.
But then again, I'm always eager to meet and hang out with people of like mind...granted I don't meet very many people that I jive with...but if I do, I'm more than willing to hang. I don't think that will change if I get published and, God willing, have a fan base. If a fan talks to me and seems cool, and perhaps gets to know me a little by frequenting several signings, then sure, what's lunch gonna hurt? I mean, assuming this person is actually a huge fan who admires your work and isn't a freaky obsessed stalker psycho. Gotta watch out for those, I guess.
But what do I know...I'm nowhere near published or successful. Anyone have any stories, from fan POV or successful author POV?
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: blgarver on April 23, 2007, 04:46:58 PM ---However, I have to assume that successful writers don't hang out with their fans outside of signings and things like that...and furthermore probably frown upon fans asking them to lunch or whatever.
--- End quote ---
My experience as a convention-attending SF fan is that having things to say and speaking up in panel discussions and being generally civilised and intelligent and decent in conversation works as well for making friends with authors as it does for making friends with any other group of human beings. I've met most of the living authors whose work I really admire and they've pretty much all been entirely civilised people.
I understand that there are some conventions where this is much more so than others, and my expereince here is primarily with Eastercons in the UK and Minicons in the US; there are definitely conventions like the World Fantasy Convention which are very strongly aimed at professionals meeting professionals and are not fan-oriented, and there are conventions, often the more media-oriented, where there's a larger division between the professionals and the fans, but those are not ones I choose to go to. I have heard it said that that kind of division is more prevalent among romance-writer conventions, but again, that's not a place I've been and I do not offer this as a solid piece of data.
Very few authors will be upset if you tell them you love their work.
--- Quote ---I mean, assuming this person is actually a huge fan who admires your work and isn't a freaky obsessed stalker psycho.
--- End quote ---
Unfortunately, not being a name author is absolutely no guarantee of not being harassed by obsessed stalker psychos. That's one of the reasons I don't use my name here.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: neurovore on April 23, 2007, 05:11:18 PM ---My experience as a convention-attending SF fan is that having things to say and speaking up in panel discussions and being generally civilised and intelligent and decent when spoken to works as well for making friends with authors as it does for making friends with any other group of human beings, and if you start an interesting conversation after a panel it's not impossible you'll be asked along to lunch. I've met most of the living authors whose work I really admire and they've pretty much all been entirely civilised people.
I understand that there are some conventions where this is much more so than others, and my experience here is primarily with Eastercons in the UK and Minicons in the US; there are definitely conventions like the World Fantasy Convention which are very strongly aimed at professionals meeting professionals and are not fan-oriented, and there are conventions, often the more media-oriented, where there's a larger division between the professionals and the fans, but those are not ones I choose to go to. I have heard it said that that kind of division is more prevalent among romance-writer conventions, but again, that's not a place I've been and I do not offer this as a solid piece of data.
Very few authors will be upset if you tell them you love their work.
Unfortunately, not being a name author is absolutely no guarantee of not being harassed by obsessed stalker psychos. That's one of the reasons I don't use my name here.
--- End quote ---
RMatthewWare:
I don't have any writer friends, but I have several reader friends, which is good. My friends don't necessarily inspire my writing, but they serve their purpose, they are my friends. And I like them.
As to a social life, I try to get out of the house. I work Friday-Sunday, so that's out. Monday we have a family night with several people who either have young children, or whose children have moved out. Tuesday we go to my parents for dinner and TV. Once a month we hang out with our friends from Overland Park (we're in Independence, MO, about 30-40 minutes away). And once a month we try to hang out with a friend that is really into theatre and movies and such. He has been a great help to my writing in the realms of critiquing and offering ideas.
Matt
Drew:
--- Quote from: blgarver on April 23, 2007, 04:46:58 PM ---...I'm nowhere near published or successful. Anyone have any stories, from fan POV or successful author POV?
--- End quote ---
I'm published, but I'm not giving up my day job, or my night one. People I hang with find it cool that I'm a writer, but that goes to the back burner very quickly. They ask me what's new then conversation moves on to something else.
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