By: riese

In reply to Elise.

I blame “Behind the Music” and “E! True Hollywood Story” etc. I think people have always wanted to know the private lives of artists, but these shows sort of turned the cultural climate around by beginning to give us the idea that at some point we are all in fact entitled to such knowledge eventually. It’s now expected that the artist and the work are both important, somehow, or necessary.

It’s unfortunate for writers particularly, because unlike other arts there really is often no desire for conversation, let alone constant public interactions, with other humans. I know personally (and obvs this is on a much smaller scale as I am officially NOBODY) I hated meeting people who knew me via my writing, I felt there was too much pressure, I would ruin everything, and I got pissed at people who somehow felt entitled to a piece of me or who would like stop reading my blog if I didn’t meet them for a drink when they passed through town. Having this website (autostraddle) now which is not just about ME and my feelings & my words & my stories, but rather about a whole business and community — in this context, I now do feel comfortable meeting people.

I read a great New York Times Magazine article about James Patterson the day Salinger died — this guy who’s basically the opposite of JD. He does a lot of hustling to get his work out there and meet people. I hope that in the future there is still room for writers who might not be good at talking to other people and aren’t ready to be “out there” all the time. I worry that there might not be.