Tayari's Blog: An Explanation and An Apology
Posted by TayariJones on June 24, 2008 08:43 AM
Filed under
The Writing Life
Cross My Heart and Hope You Die (love the title!) is a forthcoming collection of personal essays about break up. When Michael Taeckens asked me to contribute, I jumped at the opportunity. For one, I am crazy about Michael and also the other contributors are so fabulous. Sadly, when it comes to break up stories, I’ve got lots of material. Jaw-dropping material. Don’t even get me started.
Well, I couldn’t even get myself started, even with such great material such as the boyfriend who snorted my diet pills when I was at work. (After years of on-and-off again, that was the last straw. Forget the pun.) I even had garden variety drama like the One Who Wouldn’t Commit. Or the one who was committed, but to somebody else. (That’s a heartbreaker. Funny. Tragic. And it involves AWP, a fake chinchilla coat, Rita Dove, a historic Baltimore blizzard, a boy named Sue, and a drink called a “Green Sneaker.” There’s even a coda. Yesterday, he had the nerve to try and add me as a friend on Facebook!) So there was no shortage of inspiration.
But I couldn’t write it. Not one of the stories. It seems I have a block against writing about people I know. Maybe this is why I am a fiction writer, rather than a memoirist. I felt like I was narc-ing on these men, although they are a loutish bunch and by and large deserve to be shamed in a public forum. But I just couldn’t do it. I can’t explain it even to myself. It’s not like I am too high-minded to explore the revenge angle. I sat at my computer and had no idea where to start. I don’t know how to write first person when it’s me. My mind was racing, full of ideas, and I couldn’t cough up a word past “I”.
So sorry, Michael. Cross my heart, I really wanted to participate. I guess I am just not cut out to tell the truth. Sigh.
![[divider]](http://www.tayarijones.com/images/divider.jpg)
There are 3 comments on "An Explanation and An Apology". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Jackie ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
That was funny. It brought back memories of being dumped during a blizzard.
June 24, 2008 03:19 PM
Comment #2, by Laraine
I was dumped on my 35th birthday AFTER a lovely dinner and a gift. He invited me back to his house (which was 45 minutes away from mine) and dumped me there. I have written about it, but it does feel weird (and I didn't make the work public).
June 24, 2008 08:26 PM
Comment #3, by carleen
Hahaha!!! Great title.
Dude asked me for a loan...to take someone else on a date!
June 25, 2008 02:54 PM