Authors, Accountants and Anteaters–or, Who am I to Say?

I write about writing, here. So why do I sometimes bristle when other people write about writing?

Having done a good deal of thinking, between the typing of the previous sentence and this one, I’ve decided it’s not simply about content; it’s about intent, and tone.

When authors describe their own authorial travails, whether humorously or seriously, I lap it up. When authors opine lightheartedly about How to Date a Writer, or Why it’s So Very Odd and Unique Being a Writer and Not an Accountant, I, yes, bristle.

Are writers more special than accountants? What about lion tamers?

The dark, now not-so-secret truth is that I do consider writing more special than accountancy. This is partly because there’s not a thing about accountancy that I comprehend (in the same way that Mr. Anchovy failed to comprehend lion taming). Also, I cope with the low-level, mundane stress of my day job because I have writing to turn to, when the working day is done. This makes writing special. I don’t think it’s mystical, though. I don’t think my author friends are taxonomically different or smarter or quirkier or madder or more addictive than my 9-5 friends. I don’t think that informing non-writers that they should expect quirky madness from their writer paramours is enlightening and/or amusing—because this particular kind of humour is driven by an insidious, earnest condescension.

I talk to my students about my own writing process. I incorporate personal anecdotes into my online lessons. This is what I know, and it’s all I have to go on. I also trip over myself to say, “This is my experience. This isn’t What Should Be.” Then (and now) I fret. Are the capitals disingenuous? Is my attempt at non-judgmental accessibility actually indicative of a deep-seated and horribly insecure superiority?

At this point I could say, “Authors are so over-analytical!” But no. This is about me, not about some Platonic form of The Author. (Capitals are important, dammit!)

“Lighten up,” someone might say, having read and enjoyed How to Date a Writer. And, though I’ve just tried—how would you argue with that?