IWSG: February 2018

Welcome. It's the first Wednesday of the month, making it IWSG time. Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and co-hosts for putting this thing on. When I was thinking about what to post, a conversation came to mind that I had with one of my illustrators. I asked the question. THE QUESTION. Are you willing to speak before a group? She very nicely, but firmly said, "No". I thought I understood. Who likes to speak in front of other people? But it turns out I was wrong, she didn't mean that, at least not ONLY that. She followed her no with a very insightful thought--isn't it better this way? I considered it, and I must say, I have to agree. Isn't it better that we as artists maintain some sense of mystery? Would we be so looked-up-to if the general public knew that we're not only like everyone else, in some ways we're a little worse? Not worst in a bad way, but in a socially-awkward kind of way. Would that young eight-year-old look bright-eyed up at you when your skirt was tucked in your underpants? Probably not. Would that teenager care about a word you wrote if they knew exactly how much of a dork you were? Again, no. Today I'm going to do a reading in my son's classroom. And he's howling the whole way to school. He knows how much of a dork I am. He knows I'll (probably) embarrass him. I told him not to worry. I've checked my skirt. It's officially panty-free.