[writing] Those things we protect as if they were our lives

[jaylake]

After a rump session of the Fireside group tonight, HJ and I went to the Iron Horse for a quick, light dinner. He’s a pretty quiet guy, so it was nice to get to converse with him without the Olympic-class competitive talking that characterizes most writer gatherings.

I was laughing at myself as I got there, however, because I carried into the

Comments

[swan_tower]

the Olympic-class competitive talking that characterizes most writer gatherings.

That is a very good description for it -- though in the best instances it's a team sport, Us against The Rest of the Restaurant.

[biomekanic]

I've always pictured it in my mind as sort of a team judo event.

[klingonguy]

nyah, not even an entertaining match. the "Rest of the Restaurant" (while a nice turn of phrase in and of itself) never has a chance.

[desperance]

Geoff Ryman has a tale about his car bursting into flame right in front of the American Embassy in London. And US soldiery flooding out with fire extinguishers etc, but other burly soldiers restraining him from hurling himself back into the flaming vehicle.

"You don't understand," he cried, "my manuscript is in there...!"