This writer's life...

My daughter made me sit down and watch a movie with her recently. It was called “Stranger than Fiction” and starred Will Farrell and Emma Thompson, and it was about an ordinary man who starts hearing a voice in his head. The voice is narrating his life, and he gets really concerned when the author (Ms. Thompson) mentions his imminent (or is that emminent?!) death.

I know why she made me watch it. When the author is standing on a ledge above a busy street and spreads her hands, palms down, to feel the air, then starts to make that jump—but gets interrupted by her assistant, blinks, and is suddenly standing on her desk—well, the look on her face is the one my daughter says I get when I’m deep into a story.

 While I watched the movie, I couldn’t help but giggle at how strange the author was. She visits a hospital and asks a nurse where the “really” dead people are. I remember going to a funeral home to learn about a mortician’s work and asked to see the incisions and the condition of a body when it comes directly from an autopsy. Now, I’m understanding the wierd look that crossed the funeral director’s face.

I thought my life was pretty normal until my daughter held up the mirror for me to look at myself. But I must admit I go to some extremes, including cyber-stalking rock climbers and search and rescue workers, stopping Memphis PD cops on the street to ask them about a day in their life, and visiting graveyards to gather atmosphere for a scene.

13 Responses to This writer's life…

  1. Sasha White

    I saw that movie when it was in theaters! Loved it, but my friend didn’t get it. I think it’s one that only a writer, or someone who lives with a writer, could truly “get.”

    .

  2. Cheryl McInnis

    I’m confused; doesn’t everybody hear voices in their head? LOL!!!
    I know mine are running a commentary all the time, if I didn’t write I probably would be a candidate for the asylum!

  3. Amber

    I enjoyed the movie too, for the same reasons. For me, it’s not that I hear voices. But sometimes I feel like a little piece of me is observing everything that’s going on around me so it can be used later in my writing. 🙂

  4. Guestauthor

    Rasha!!
    ROFLMAO! I already like your uncle, although i’m afraid he’d want to commit me! I’d rather be schizo than depressed.

    Karin!
    Whoa! Now I know who to come to the next time I want mortuary info!

    Fedora and kh!
    Thanks so much for stopping by! Wow, I’m really loving the exclamation points today!!!!!!

  5. kh

    wante to see that love will

  6. Fedora

    I haven’t seen the movie, but now I’m curious! Nice to see you here, Delilah! 🙂

  7. Karin

    Delilah, I really enjoyed watching that movie. I’ve seen it a couple of times now and always enjoy Emma’s character.

    I haven’t necessarily done weird things for research, but I do have family members in some professions, such as mortician, where I learn weird things anyway. My mom’s uncle has even written a book about mortuary science that he has sent to us.

  8. Rasha

    Stranger than Fiction is a dear movie to my heart and I love Emma! I saw this because the idea of it gripped me so much that I even braved Will Farrell for it (do not care much for the guy).

    However, I got very curious feedback from my uncle who happens to be a shrink when I discussed it with him a few months ago. He said who ever came up with the idea of hearing voices (which is the great twist in the movie) must have a form of schizophrenia in him (WHAT!!!!).

    Naturally I was surprised that he would think a cool idea like this must have a link with some illness but then again psychiatrics are a weird bunch. I sat there and quietly told him that I have unusual ideas of my own and what would this make me.

    He calmly looked at me and said “you passed the age of schizophrenia, all you have to worry about is deep depressions from now on.”

    Well thank God for that 🙂

  9. Guestauthor

    Valerie!
    No fair! No my curiosity is whetted.

  10. MsValerie

    Is that *really* Delilah Devlin blogging? Wow…Too bad we can’t tell from the post. LOL.

    Not a writer….but I’ve done LOTS of strange things for any number of reasons.

  11. Guestauthor

    Brandy!
    Thanks for stopping by. I’ve always thought “writer” should be listed as a mental illness alongside “schizophrenic.” We listen to those voices.

  12. Brandy W

    Hey Delilah

    ….popping in to see what’s going on today. I haven’t seen that movie but have been told its pretty good. I may just have to check it out and see how ya’ll work. I must admit the mind of a writer is a mysterious thing for me. I would love to be one but I know it isn’t my calling. I’ll just stick to being an avid reader.

  13. Guestauthor

    Argh! My blog posted before I could add the final two paragraphs. Here they are:

    If there are any writers out there, what strange things have you done for the sake of a story? If you’re a reader and are curious about the writer’s mind, I recommend that movie. Between her zoned out expression, her neurotic behavior, her chain-smoking for inspiration—Emma Thompson is me, or so my daughter says.

    Next up, she wants me to watch Stephen King’s “Secret Window.”

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