Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Confession of a Sensitive Writer

Hot topic disclaimer: You may only read this post if you promise not to become offended on my behalf and write my husband letters. You see, we have worked this whole issue out—mostly—and our boxing gloves rest safely in a grungy corner of the basement. I’d hate to have to bring them upstairs because someone misunderstood my motive in baring my soul today.


I believe what I’m about to confess may help some of you writers, singers, artists, dancers, and other creative types. It might even save your vocal chords from an argument, or your checkbook from divorce fees.

Are you ready? My husband does not like my writing.

Lest you think he’s a heartless, insensitive lout, I want to jump to his defense. He likes me, he’s proud of me, and cheers loudly whenever I publish an article or get an editing job. But, you see, we are very different.

Aha.

He is the intellectual, deep-thinker of the family who loves to research, analyze, and plan. He enjoys delving into historical background, studying word origins, and—yawn—perusing National Geographic articles.

I, on the other paw, love to invent witticisms, ramble through emotion-land, and make statements that some mistake for lies when in fact they are exaggerations and embellishments. Making our bed each morning is a discipline for me. I’d rather read, blog, or slide across the kitchen floor on my way to find Cookies & Cream bars for my breakfast.

My articles and books, which reflect my nutty personality, are too fluffy and touchy-feely for his taste. Too subjective, he'd say. And of course, I took this personally.


I’d cry, shout, and accuse him of not caring or not supporting my writing career. He’d deny it. It was ruining any joy I had in writing and publishing. Not to mention our lovely, 36-year relationship.

As I was washing dishes one day, this thought slapped me in the brain:
I don’t particularly enjoy his style of writing either. There is nothing wrong with it; it just doesn’t suit my personality. So, why can’t we accept each other’s differing tastes, and love one another for the unique creatures—I use this word loosely—that God made us?

Large sigh of relief.
I won’t pretend we put our boxing gloves away and never used them again. But that one little thought—now I realize it was the Holy Spirit—helped me to take this whole issue less seriously.

And that has made a HUGE difference in how I perceive my DH’s response—or lack of it—to my gift.

Now that you’ve heard my confession, how do you feel? Do you have someone in your life that you love very much, who just doesn’t get you, and your gifts? Can you decide to be friends anyway? I hope so.


Because we only own two pair of boxing gloves. And we're not sharing.


21 comments:

  1. What a cute, honest post! :-) When I first got a job writing articles, my feelings were hurt that my husband wouldn't read them. He doesn't read anything, actually. It took a while but now I'm okay with that. I don't like to go fishing with him, he doesn't like to read; we're even. LOL
    I'm glad the boxing gloves got put away. :-)

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  2. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who is misunderstood. :-) Love the post, Jeanette, it was delightfully honest and I, too, am glad you two got to the point where you could retire your boxing gloves!

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  3. Jeanette,
    Your honesty is delightful and refreshing. I love it! :)

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  4. Bing. Bing. Bing.

    We are here (that is me and my husband). Although my man doesn't even READ my writing. He's simply not a reader (we're talking maybe two books a year to my 2 books a week).

    I've had to come to peace with that.

    ~ Wendy

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  5. Wow. Love this post because it's so true. More proof that just because somebody doesn't like our writing, doesn't mean we should take it personally. Thanks for the wisdom, Jeanette!

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  6. Love your wit, Jen! Glad you realized that your writing styles are merely DIFFERENT - there's not one right way to write! Thank the Lord for that! May both of you keep doing what you're doing and leave those boxing gloves to rest in peace in the basement! God bless!

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  7. My husband does not support my writing either. He just can't get it. Then again, it's my dream, God put inside of me, so my husband probably can't understand it. :O)

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  8. Sounds familiar! My husband thinks fiction is a pointless waste of time when you can read valuable REALITIES in God's Word or other such books. :) LOL again I ditto all your disclaimers though because my DH is also my biggest cheerleader. Darn. Now I had a mental picture of him in a cheerleader uniform and it's disturbing me.

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  9. Now that would be a challenge for sure! I'm proud of you for finding a way through/around/over that one without KO'ing each other.

    I can't say I identify with this, though, as it was my husband who first believed in my gift before I ever did and even now has dreams that are nearly bigger than my own - for me!

    Your way of looking at stuff makes me laugh (again), and I'm glad you're back.

    Huggin' your neck,

    R.

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  10. Those gloves look like my size:) Hubby and I haved learned to show support for one another even though we don't share the same interests.

    If I ever publish a book I doubt he'll read it!

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  11. Love your honesty, Jeanette! And oh yes, we have this dynamic in our home too. My husband is a businessman type with the bottom line in mind. So when I don't make a "profit" after so many years of writing, he questions my sanity. God knows we need balance, though, so I'm sure that's why He pairs us opposites together. :)

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  12. What a beautifully fresh honest post. Yes, we are so very different and our 'best half' (I use this term loosely) may not always appreciate our 'gifts'. Dang, isn't marriage a give and take contract??? Heeehehe!!!

    I just had to laugh at your slide across the floor statement. I keep my utility floor super slick. I have a purpose for it. Each time Hubs leaves the house he says, "I'm leavin' now." I shout, "hang on" then run down the hall, hit the utility room floor in socks of course, slide into Hubs arms and kiss his face goodbye. It's just one of those wild and crazy thing we do. :o)

    God bless ya and have a most marvelous day sweetie!!!

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  13. That is just too funny - you both write but don't like each other's writing style. Well, at least you agree on that!

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  14. Hi Jen,

    Opposites attract. I wish I knew why God made us this way. My husband and I are opposites, so although he will say he likes my poems, he has confessed to liking the kind of poetry that jumbles words, basically makes no sense to me at all. I rarely write poems that don't rhyme, and that's just not his thing, but He's the one that encouraged me to create a blog. So I press on...

    I liked your post, it made me laugh and smile.
    God bless You

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  15. You've hit that place that my husband calls 'agreeing to disagree' and it's a very legitimate middle ground. I love your delightful description of the conflict and am glad the boxing gloves are off again. :)

    It just goes to show that people... including husbands, agents, and the general public... don't all appreciate the same kind of writing. Even when we're published there is a section of the public who will never choose to read our genre. We don't have to love what everyone writes as long as we're supportive of each other's writing efforts, and I'm sure you and your DH are happy with each other's successes.

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  16. Though he's never said it in so many words, I suspect my husband doesn't like my writing either. He reads non-fiction and I write fantasy. He'll read what I write and critique it, but he's never pretended that my work is something he'd pick up on his own to read in his spare time. But that's okay - to each his own!

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  17. Isn't it nice when we accept the things that aren't going to change? Less stress all around.

    My husband is very supportive of my writing, but he just doesn't "get" the time it takes to do what I do. We joke about it sometimes, but I still feel a little pressure to produce ($$) for all the time I spend at my computer. I'm working on it.

    Thanks for encouraging me, Jen!
    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  18. I'm late posting . . .

    Hubby is supportive of mine, and either does like or pretends to like most of my writing, so that's all good. He even writes! Some children's, some non-fiction. :)

    What I do have an issue with, he doesn't have time to read all I want him to of my writing. How could he do that? :)

    Lv him anyway!
    Funny, heart-touching post, Jen.
    cb
    http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

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  19. I'm late posting . . .

    Hubby is supportive of mine, and either does like or pretends to like most of my writing, so that's all good. He even writes! Some children's, some non-fiction. :)

    What I do have an issue with, he doesn't have time to read all I want him to of my writing. How could he do that? :)

    Lv him anyway!
    Funny, heart-touching post, Jen.
    cb
    http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

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  20. Oh, I love this! My family isn't into my writing, at all!
    And I love how God puts us in situations to build our character to be strong in the work He wants us to do.

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  21. Hi Jen -

    I'm writing for publication because my late hubby supported and encouraged me. There are others, who are less than approving, but the only One who truly matters gave me this gift.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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