Changing lanes
Things happen. You're driving along, minding your own business, trying to keep your car in good condition, trying not to cause danger to others on the road - that kind of stuff. I've been doing it for almost fifteen years. Published nine books, well received, some more so than others, won a couple of prizes and a few more nominations. All very well and nice. People treat me as a known quantity: a commercial guy with an interesting hobby. I'm in Lane 2. Good lane to be in. People never talked down to me, even though it was clear I had no business in Lanes 3 or 4 or whatever other lanes there are.
So, I'm in Lane 2, when suddenly book number 10 hits the top of the charts, number 1 in the bestseller's list. The book has been out for a couple of months (well received, won another award - business as usual) when everything changed. Just when I was just getting my thoughts back together, trying to figure out what my next book is going to be about. I am excited beyond what I am going to tell you here.
Before I knew what had happened, I had changed lanes. I suddenly find myself in Lane 3. Very good lane to be in. It's not that people start talking up to me, but I find there are certain things I don't have to explain anymore. Not to the same extent anyway.
Example. Someone had an idea, a proposal that didn't sit well with me, and I sighed. A little sigh, no more than a short escape of air from my lungs, maybe dressed with a touch of disappointment. I pressed my lips together and pushed the air out through my nose, accompanied by a quick internal hm. That's all. I always voice my first disagreement like that. Always have done. But no-one ever seemed to notice.
Lane 2. Typical.
When you're in Lane 2 you have to honk your horn and flash your lights, and even then there is no guarantee that people will respond in the way you would like them to.
So I sighed my little sigh and prepared for some honking and flashing. But as I breathed in to go verbal and explain why this idea was no good, the woman on the other end of the line withdrew the the whole thing, saying it was a rediculous proposal anyway and she was going to sort things out and get back to me.
Bang. Like that. She hung up.
Lane 3. Definitely. Maybe 4. I don't know, I'm new here.
So, I'm in Lane 2, when suddenly book number 10 hits the top of the charts, number 1 in the bestseller's list. The book has been out for a couple of months (well received, won another award - business as usual) when everything changed. Just when I was just getting my thoughts back together, trying to figure out what my next book is going to be about. I am excited beyond what I am going to tell you here.
Before I knew what had happened, I had changed lanes. I suddenly find myself in Lane 3. Very good lane to be in. It's not that people start talking up to me, but I find there are certain things I don't have to explain anymore. Not to the same extent anyway.
Example. Someone had an idea, a proposal that didn't sit well with me, and I sighed. A little sigh, no more than a short escape of air from my lungs, maybe dressed with a touch of disappointment. I pressed my lips together and pushed the air out through my nose, accompanied by a quick internal hm. That's all. I always voice my first disagreement like that. Always have done. But no-one ever seemed to notice.
Lane 2. Typical.
When you're in Lane 2 you have to honk your horn and flash your lights, and even then there is no guarantee that people will respond in the way you would like them to.
So I sighed my little sigh and prepared for some honking and flashing. But as I breathed in to go verbal and explain why this idea was no good, the woman on the other end of the line withdrew the the whole thing, saying it was a rediculous proposal anyway and she was going to sort things out and get back to me.
Bang. Like that. She hung up.
Lane 3. Definitely. Maybe 4. I don't know, I'm new here.
posted by charlesdentex at Thursday, July 03, 2008
2 Comments:
Keep your eyes on the road! The lanes don't matter, but keeping the destination in mind is!
The road is important.
The lane is important.
The destination is important.
Without eachother they don't exist.
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