I am not an author. This may seem a strange way to start a
post, but the truth is, I am not. I hated grammar in school, my
handwriting is atrocious and I couldn't tell the different between a
gerund and a participle if they smacked me in the face. Not that I
wouldn't recognize the difference if some one said 'Here, this is a
gerund and this is a participle', but I can't just tell you what one
is. I'm sure Grammar
Girl will know.
REGARDLESS, I never went to school for writing, or
literature or any of the things one would associate with becoming a
writer, the possible exception being I love reading books. I am, and
probably will always be in my heart, an engineer. I loathe
imprecision and lack of specificity, I would rather design a solar
array or a computer than study literature or art. The design of the
Scion Xb literally offends my sensibilities. Yet, here I am with a
completed book in my hands. A work that I never sought to write or,
indeed, thought I was capable of writing. Needless to say, as I'm
sure many writers can attest, I think my own book is pretty darn
good. I like that characters, I've read it cover to cover between
five and ten times for editing, and have yet to tire of the story.
I've even started writing a second book in the *gasp* series.
So what does this have to do with backhand compliments?
Plenty, I say. Because the first person who read it is the one who
gave me the unwitting backhanded compliment. I had given this person
the first three chapters of my fledgling work and steeled my heart as
I knew I must. It didn't matter, but it helped. When she put down the
pages and looked up at me, I had hopes, but her words were not the
glowing praise I yearned for:
"I've read worse."
These were the three words she had to say about my
masterpiece. I felt a little of my soul die, but then a sparkling
idea came to me. I followed her lack luster comment with:
"So when you say that you've read worse, do you mean
in print?"
Her answer will forever be etched in my heart:
"Yes. I've read worse books than this."
I've got my manuscript out in my writing group mow, and I'm
hoping for a few more detailed comments than "I've read worse",
we'll see. I've also come to a decision, I know I'm not a writer, I'm
an engineer. But, perhaps, in addition to being an engineer, I can be
something altogether better than a writer or author, a little phrase
uttered by a five-year old who doesn't know the words author or
writer yet, a phrase which suits my technical heart.
I can be a Story Maker.
