The Dangers of Dating a Writer

Posted by Sarah Turner Aug 18, 2008

We writers justify a lot in the name of art. We read other people's grocery lists and eavesdrop on coffee shop conversations. We may stoop to opening a friend's day planner if she leaves it lying around and we might even (gasp!) read someone else's mail.

As writers, we get to call this research.

For the most part it's fairly harmless. Right?

Maybe not, once intimacy enters the picture. Should our partners fear that their secrets will end up in one of our stories? That a character in our novel have the same annoying teeth picking habit?

Well, yes. The intimate details of our relationships will, most likely, turn up in our writing somewhere down the road. As much as we try to disguise these details, they will probably be recognised.

We should definitely have some rules about what we can write about and what is off limits. Trouble with us writers is we don't much like rules...

Blogger Wistar Watt Murray provides some good advice for anyone misguided enough to date a writer. Pass it on to your loved ones – they may thank you, before they read your next novel.