fill-in-the-blank

Writers have an overactive imagination. It’s probably a reason they became a writer. So, in dealing with a writer, being precise is important. You shouldn’t leave a question hanging open because we can fill in the details—actually probably 42 scenarios within moments of it being left just hanging there. “Do you like…” it could be anything from how we look, to a meal we just cooked to your BFF. With a vague—or god forbid no—answer said writer can assume the worst ten times over. You may be lucky and the writer will create something to your benefit, but I doubt it.

Other things that we may do—as evident by Raine’s post on Friday—we will murder your stinking ass—in writing. You piss us off and you will die a gruesome horrible death, and if it’s really necessary, twice.

Don’t assume our minds aren’t always on—now I can’t speak for any other writer, but personally my writer’s brain is *always* collecting. ALWAYS. One gaffe and it’s book fodder. Writers can think of the various and devious ways someone else might think so then the gaffe turns to why it happened, what was the intent behind it and will you be the next chalk outline. Then I have to remind myself that other people don’t think like me—most are probably normal. My kids can attest to the fact that I can jump to a conclusion and then some. And then some. “Why are you in a bad mood? Did you…” Fill-in-the-blank time. Bullies, drugs, school, girls (none of the above, all of the above)… when in fact it may be as simple as the poor kiddo was just tired.

Other fill-in-the-blank moments come at odd times. You may create a world when no one is the wiser (I once thought I was the only one who did this, but I have recently heard from other writers who). When standing in line or seeing folks on the highway a writer can create a fill-in-the-blank why they are there too story—right then and there. Unfortunately, I *always* start w/ worst case scenario then feel bad and do a happy story—but I do this everywhere I go. (keeps me from being bored)

Worse yet is the personal application: One time I came home and—don’t ask me why I noticed so soon, but—all the caller IDs on the phones had been wiped blank. See… I am the only one who ever clears it so it struck me as odd. I started off questioning the dh with what he’d been up to and it ended up turning into a “You better tell me or else…” Color me embarrassed when it turned out he’d spoken to my BFF to plan a birthday thing for me. She’d had to call him back once she got things squared away. [Note: Had he a) only deleted her number, I wouldn’t have known at all  b) not messed with it I wouldn’t have questioned why she’d called—I’d have assumed it was to talk to me]  Being the writer, I’d have thought *all* the way through to possible outcomes before I touched the caller ID. Him being a mere mortal… just deleted it all with no thought to after.

It is an occupational hazard but truth be told, like I said, it keeps things entertaining and *so* not boring. I sometimes wonder about it, but it is the chick/egg question. Did I become a writer because my imagination has a broken button or did my button get broken when I became a writer? Who knows? It doesn’t really matter when it comes down to. But I will forever be filling in blanks.

So what’s the worse fill-in-the-blank moment? Or heck, do you even have them?