It's Been A While

Yes, yes it has.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been in the middle of my high school exams, and they are demanding a lot of my attention. I'm not done yet, but my last one is on Thursday (I think), so I'll be back to roaming the blogosphere after that. Actually, after Thursday my summer break will start, so I'll have way more time on my hands - and I guess that means ... more posts! Fantastic!

Anyway, I just felt that I should let you all know that I still exist, and that I'll be back in the middle of things on Thursday.

Hang in there, and don't miss me too much.

Non-Writers Don't Understand

If you're a writer, of course you already know this. If you're a non-writer, then you're probably thinking, What's not to understand?


The thing is that writers, being writers, are inevitably weird in our own special way, while non-writers lack this certain weirdness, preferring to be weird in other areas of life. Generally, therefore, as the weirdness-compatibility level between writers and non-writers is almost zero, the latter lack the capacity to comprehend certain weird traits of the former.

Feel free to quote me on that.

Anyway, it is for this very reason of incompatible weirdness that non-writers don't understand things like:

• Why we must write with the door closed.
• Why it's important for us to have a blog.
• Why we spend so much time in front of a screen.
• Why there is such a term as Person from Porlock.
• Why it takes two years to plot out a trilogy.

And the list goes on.

A while ago I saw an interview with JK Rowling, in which she was asked what her goal or her mission was in beginning to write the Harry Potter series. I found it kind of funny when Rowling actually had to explain to the interviewer that she didn't start off with revolutionising childrens' reading forever in mind. She just had a story that she loved, and one that she really wanted to tell.

In a recent documentary about her life and journey, she was asked, "Why do you still write?" Rowling answered like a true writer: "Because I love it and I need it." Her response really made me smile, because we share the weirdness of both being writers, and I understand what she means. I can relate. But one of my hundreds of friends* couldn't understand why she still works when she has millions of pounds. Why doesn't she just retire?

He's a non-writer. He doesn't understand.

The difficult thing about writing this post is that I'm trying my best not to offend any non-writers who think they do understand. I'm also trying not to offend writers who don't like the idea that they're weird (although writers should really be well acquainted with that notion).

But my offense concerns aside, the differing weirdness between writers and non-writers is simply a quirky difference I've noticed. Have you noticed it?

*not strictly accurate