Writers are all crazy. We have invisible friends. We lie on a regular basis–and get paid for it (sometimes). We can bring ourselves to tears while writing imaginary scenes. We actually feel guilty when we have to write a scene in which a favorite character has to experience something horrible. Face it, crazy comes with the business.
My family is starting to get used to it.
There was that day that I actually said to my husband, “Oh, whatever you do–don’t check my browser history.” That got a raised eyebrow. I had spent the day doing online research. I had read about the invention of heroin and the opium trade. I had studied prostitution in early Chinatown. I had looked at images of opium pipes. While trying to accurately describe a character’s face, I decided to do a google image search to get some ideas. I typed in “Chinese women.” Don’t do that. You really don’t know what you’re going to get. Or maybe you do. Must learn to think before I google. I then googled “women’s undergarments” looking for details about clothing in 1906. Yikes. My husband went and double-checked our virus software.
I don’t spend every day trolling the underbelly of the internet. I’ve actually gotten some of my best ideas at church. That’s much safer, right? One time during the sermon, I was inspired and began furiously scratching notes on my church bulletin. “What are you doing?” my husband asked, quietly. I replied, in an excited whisper, “I’m plotting!” A visitor sitting in front of us shot a worried glance over her shoulder.
My family still remembers the day I shrieked with joy while sitting at the computer. “What? What?!” My kids came bounding into the room. I bounced up and down in my chair. “You won’t believe what I found!” Their faces grew wide with excitement. I pointed to the screen. “It’s an X-ray tech manual from 1904! Can you believe it?” My son rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe it.”
So, do you agree? Are we writers crazy? How much more proof do you need?