I'm enjoying a good laugh at my own denseness today.
When will I get it through my thick skull that the answer to a casual acquaintance who asks:
"What have you been up to?"
is
"Oh, not much. Housework, errands, you know."
The answer is NOT:
"Well, I've been contacting members of the International Leatherworkers Guild to ask a question about saddles. I want to know if they would have done a specific kind of saddle ornamentation in America in 1825."
Nor is THIS the correct answer:
"I've spent the last three hours learning how to stitch, bevel, emboss, and cut leather as they would have in early America. I also learned how to set buckles and retainer loops, and what to do if you accidentally pierce your own stitching thread with your double needle system. And I learned how to stick flax thread to a hog bristle."
Writer brain fog. It's an occupational hazard. It's not that writers don't have anything to say. It's that frequently, what's on our minds is so bizarre and random that we're better off keeping our mouths shut and sticking to the rote script for small talk.
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7 comments:
This is awesome. To be honest, I'd rather hear about the leather working than "Oh, nothing much," but I'm strange that way.
I can't wait to read whatever story you are putting together. It sounds fascinating.
My g-grandfather was a cowboy during the last days of the unfenced areas of West Texas. He used to make his own leather ropes by weaving six strands of rawhide together. I wish I'd known him better, but he died in the 80's, a very old man. I suppose this random fact is meaningless to your post, but you made me think of him with your comments, and I thought I'd force that memory on you!
Your answer sounds perfectly normal to me.:)
LOL. That's funny. I've answered, "Oh, I'm trying to figure out how to kill Shelby's demon" before. (Shelby's my main character and she's faced with the right hand of Satan)....I got a funny look that time.
But I agree with Travis. I'd go with the shockers...that'll get people talkin' **smile**
Travis - I love hearing anecdotes about the everyday past. Handcrafting is becoming so rare that it's really cool to hear about how people used to make their own necessities.
Don't you dare hide your light under a bushel! I'd love to hear such a response to such a mundane question. Just don't go on and on and there's nothing wrong with a little bit of writer's fog in my book. Besides, you never know when you'll meet someone who has a treasure trove of historical research for you.
I LOVE these kinds of answers, too! Not only are they interesting, but like others said, I feel less odd for being in my own writing world...WWII right now. Would you like to know the advantages of the AT-6 aircraft or the farming practices of farmers in Buffalo Gap, Texas in the 1930s?
Oh, and let us know when you find your saddle ornamentation answer. I'm interested. =)
Susan - You're right about the bushel, I think, though I have my doubts about finding a saddlery expert while hanging over my daughter's kindergarten fence waiting for her to come out! :-) Fortunately, the saddlery experts I've found online have been extremely gracious in providing help.
Alison - Your advantage in dealing with WWII is that you can now talk shop with WWII vets, who are often really awesome and fun to talk to. I cannot talk shop with the living -- only with history zealots like myself, and writers. (Of COURSE you guys all like the writer answers better! Why do you think we all keep blogs? It's so that our writer buddies will tell us how cool and fascinating we are when we go off on our writer jags)
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