When I was in Glasgow for Worldcon, I shared a few pictures on my Instagram account. Among them were shots of the full Scottish breakfast I got to use as fuel for the day.
Someone commented on the post that I should “eat less and write more.” I’m sure the person who left that comment had no ill intent and meant it as a compliment of sorts, but it still rubbed me the wrong way just a little bit.
What I do—what all writers I know do as well—is informed and fueled by our lives. We synthesize our personal experiences and perspectives and turn them into fiction. In order to do that well, we have to, you know, live our lives. I do most of my work in a room by myself with just me and the screen or the notebook in front of me. Whenever I don’t work, I need to step out into life and refill those experience bars again, and I also like to meet old friends and eat good food because those are the sort of things that sustain me and keep me at my desk the rest of the time. In fact, whenever I go without them too long, I feel my writing dropping in quality because it’s not healthy to live almost exclusively in your own head and let those socialization and experience bars go down to nothing. The trip to Glasgow was, in fact, only my second trip of the entire year, and the only one that was work-related. I got to see writer friends I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic, and it was a much-overdue event for my mental health.
When you tell me to cut out enjoying that part of my life and go back to my office, you irritate me and spoil my enjoyment, and you make me pull back from sharing my life in public in order to avoid getting irritated and having my joy spoiled. It’ll also make my work less enjoyable in the long run because I’ll eventually suffer a creative slump or burnout if I am locked in the office by myself all year. Neither of those outcomes are in any way positive for either you or me.
I guess what I am trying to get across is this—writers are not vending machines, so please don’t treat your favorite authors as such, even if it implies that you love our writing so much that you’d rather we never did anything else so you can get your fictional treats more quickly. We need time to restock so you won’t be stuck with the stale novella in slot C5 that’s been put there without much care by a tired and overworked brain. Please think before you comment, and let us have a life outside of work as well without making us feel bad for it.
TBH i’d be happy not to wait for _that_ long for the next awesome story from you.
BUT.
I know that you (and other writers and so on) are NOT a machine, have your own life – so, these kind of comments are selfish and dumb. I’d tell these kind of people to go home and kindly *do what you deserve*
Nonetheless: thanks for all the stories! If i have to wait longer, so be it. “Hauptsache: die Bücher kommen; ganz egal wenn.” 😉
My only comment is go for the “full Scottish”! And enjoy!
John ( an expat Scot )
Well said and keep up the great work Marko. Can’t beat a full Scottish, although being Scottish I may be a little biased
I hope that the comment to you was only tongue in cheek. We all need to eat and all work and no play leaves a person worse off. Love your stories. 🙂
We love you! You’re the reason I am a reader at all. A single Love, Death, and Robots episode (lucky thirteen obv), led me down the rabbit hole that is the frontlines universe. I do all of my reading exclusively on my kindle app. However, I am a proud owner of the entire physical and kindle collection and they are the only books I own on display. There is a cliffhanger I would like to see what becomes of (the samples taken from the Lanky homeworld) but Enjoy your life man. We love your imagination, but without you, there is no “your imagination”.
I totally agree you need friends and family and a life,..that is what sustains us all. But we look at you writers as “gods” needing no substance except for fan approval. It is wrong but please do not trouble yourself over what (he, she they) wrote we love your work and are not being very articulate with our writing skills…. You’re the author …we are your fans, Thanks for letting us see a part of your life…..I’m sorry it vexed you so…
There are always going to be people like that. I would ignore it and enjoy your life.
Sounds like a prime candidate for a fire mission. Even the lowliest private in the US Army I got leave each year. I could take time to live. Because what’s all the work for if you cannot enjoy it?
Even U.S. military get leave. We get worked 12-18 hour days or more. We get paid squat less than minimum wage. But even then we get vacation. We should not bag on anyone outside of people who make gross use of vacation. So you are correct sir. And anyone who should disagree, well, we’ve got a moving target for a fire mission!
I’m sorry folks were rude! I’m glad you’re able to get out and recharge mentally and physically!
That’s terrible! I absolutely love your work and appreciate the cost associated with creating great stories. Thank you for everything!!!
It would be a major sin to not enjoy the full Scottish breakfast when available. I know I’d be savoring one if I had the chance.
Spon on, Marko. This is one of the many reasons I dislike social media. As Belichick used to say, “Ignore the noise.” It really does work.
Additionally, I’m working on my first book at the moment. Narrative non-fiction. It’s going well (I think) but the monastic lifestyle is challenging at times. I know I’ve hit critical mass when I ask my dog about verb choices. At that point, it’s time to mix it up with the hoomans.
Thank you for your books and stories. How you live your life is your business. You are under no obligation to produce a certain output for me to read (unless you have a contract with a publisher). Similarly, I am under no obligation to buy/read everything you publish, but I like your work and intend to slowly work through your series. That comment was rude and uncalled for.
While I’m sure the unfortunate commenter thought he/she was leaving a witty little aside as a spur to get to your next masterwork sooner. I hope they realize that you are in fact human and that you actually read these comments and take them to heart. Please don’t let one ill-conceived mumble from some basement dweller deter you from your calling! While we wait for your next novel to drop, know that you’re welcome at my campfire anytime you need to recharge your mental batteries. There’s nothing better than turning off your brain for a while after emptying it onto a clean sheet of paper. If you ever find yourself on the east coast of Vancouver Island, give me a shout!
Not to mention that a well-made Scottish Breakfast is a feast. On a vacation, I found the best ones, made with fresh ingredients served in Bed & Breakfasts, especially my stay in Glasgow. No canned “baked beans” up there, unlike in England.
You are not a colorless drone slaving away in a closet! You are a creative artist with a vibrant mind who needs and deserves a vibrant personal life lived with gusto. Please don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise.
I absolutely encourage you to engage in as much self care and recreation and rest and anything else you you enjoy or need or just want.
You have a rare gift and anything that nurtures that as well as your life is very much worth doing.
Might have to check out this Scottish breakfast you had.
I’m sorry! That was a very rude comment made to you.
Your writings are an absolute treat to me, well worth any wait. Take as long as you need and ignore the ignorant trolls, I for one will always be there on release day. Thank you for so very many hours of interesting, exciting and meaningful stories and characters Mr. Kloos.