When I was 14 years old, I saved my pocket money to go and see a writer I admired give a talk. I couldn’t afford to buy the book as well (I was 14). I shyly asked if he would sign my notebook instead.
He rolled his eyes and told me to get lost.
That’s how I met #DouglasCoupland.
He rolled his eyes and told me to get lost.
That’s how I met #DouglasCoupland.
Many years later, I was lucky enough to find out for myself just how stressful book tours can be. Writers don’t have infinite social energy. And yes, it IS annoying when people don’t get that you’re there to sell books.
But Mr Coupland taught me an important lesson that day >
But Mr Coupland taught me an important lesson that day >
The lesson was: this is part of the work, and you are damn lucky to get to do it. You never know what any interaction with a reader might mean to them, or what someone’s going through. Even if you’re totally burned out you try to at least say a relevant sentence.
I would say that about six months later, I went to see @Wintersonworld speak and her grace and patience was a shining counter-example.
…also, possibly, don’t be a wanker to the weird kid who says they want to be a writer one day, because they might, and they’ll remember.
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