I KNOW ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS
By Donnell Ann Bell
Whenever I sit down with my husband to watch Jeopardy, and a writer is one of the three contestants, my Dear Husband automatically says, the writer will win, he/she’s smart. I sit back and think, maybe. He might be a descendant of Einstein’s, a Harvard graduate, incredibly well read, or he might be like me –he gets this crazy idea that won’t let go, and has to finish it so his head won’t explode.
Being thought of as the owner of a high IQ is much more glamorous so I smile and remain quiet. Still, just between you, me and the blogosphere, writers answer to their muse, and, sadly, that muse often takes them in a direction writers don’t want to go.
My muse couldn’t care less about the amount of work I have to do or the fear involved when I write a character. What do you mean you think my protagonist needs to be a nuclear physicist? I know nothing about nuclear physicists. Do you know how much researching and interviewing that occupation will entail?
I’ll subtly insert, say, a janitor when my muse isn’t looking. I can write a janitor. To which she’ll cross her arms, lift an eyebrow (my muse has eyebrows) and say, I distinctly ordered a MIT-caliber character—write one.
In BETRAYED, my November release from Bell Bridge Books, my characters consist of a trap shooting champion, a world class soccer player, a cop with a masters in psychology, an Ob-GYN, artists dealing with glass, iron and paint disciplines, and several others who would do so much better on Jeopardy than me. You would think my muse would be satisfied with the amount of research I had to put into this book. Not even close. She’s already moved on to my next work in progress.
Maybe writers are like me and try out for Jeopardy to hide from their muses. Anyone have Alex Trebeck’s contact information? The next time you see one on a game show, don’t fall for that ‘they must be smart’ routine. The truth is if writers are doing something besides writing, they’re avoiding their muses. Writers – most know enough to be dangerous.
Click on the covers to check out Donnell Ann Bell’s “dangerous” novels – DEADLY RECALL and THE PAST CAME HUNTING!
And don’t miss out on BETRAYED. Out TODAY!
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