Author | Joseph L. Selby

Anti-Social Socializing

I am not anti-social. In fact, I love being the center of attention. I have wanted to be the storyteller since I was five, lying about the size of the frog I caught1. The trick is, there are a lot of social situations where I cannot be the center of attention, and in those cases I find I would much rather be writing.

Most often, this is a barbershop party. My wife is in a competitive a capela barbershop chorus and quartet and those folks love to party. When they party, they sing. I can’t sing2. So I hang out while they sing. They’re good people and we converse at times, but really, it’s a party where everyone else is singing. I would rather write, but I feel that’s rude. I don’t want to sit in the corner on my computer. So…I sit in the corner with my liquor. It’s marginally more social.

Any more, it seems I measure all social engagements against writing time. Knowing that I’ve already had two hours to write that day, would the time spent socializing be more fun than more writing. If yes, then yay! If no, then…can I bring my computer just in case?

1 It was THIS big!

2 I’m told I could sing very well with proper training, but I consider that training writing time and would not sacrifice the one for the other.

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6 responses to “Anti-Social Socializing”

  1. Nate Wilson

    If you can master writing on a smartphone, that might be the most inconspicuous approach open to you. After all, those phones are only THIS big!

    Reply
  2. Joseph L. Selby

    The Palm Pre doesn't have the best keyboard, unfortunately. I make a bunch of mistakes just texting much less attempting to write as part of a novel. That was perhaps the best feature of my Blackberry. I could type like the wind on that thing.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth Poole

    That is exactly how I measure my social time. Will writing be more fun? Yes? Then can I at least bring a notepad to jot down some notes?

    The nice thing about a notepad is you are a) a productive writer b) observing people in their wild habitat, and c) sparks the potential for someone asking you what you are doing. Then you say, "Jotting some ideas down for my book." in which case the center of attention might switch over to you for a while. 😀

    Reply
  4. Joseph L. Selby

    Ick. I don't like talking about my writing with non-writers unless they read fantasy. The questions are always the same: What do you write? (Usually the conversation ends here when I say fantasy and they look like I pooped in my pants.) Have you written anything I've read? (If not previously, the conversation usually ends here when they don't understand a book isn't published as soon as you finish writing it.)

    Reply
  5. Bryce Daniels

    Hey, Joseph!

    I came on strict instructions from Nate Wilson. But since I'm kind of new to all this, would you mind if I sit over in the corner with my computer AND my liquor for a bit?

    Nice to find you. Funny stuff.

    Reply
  6. Joseph L. Selby

    Sitting in the corner is perfectly acceptable here. Just don't let Liz give you any conical hats.

    Welcome, Bryce. 🙂

    Reply

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