Am I allowed to be scandalous?
The last couple of days have been very exciting. This fall I read one of my short stories at a DimeStories event, and it tickled the funny bone of a reporter for The San Diego Reader. When he wrote a column about the event, he called my piece “the funniest story of the evening.”
The funniest story of the evening was told by a woman who wrote about going to the bathroom at work and having her boss sit in the stall next to her. People often talk about the Seinfeld where Elaine was in the bathroom and ran out of toilet paper. Well, the story told on this night was ten times funnier.
Awesome, right? I’m on top of the world. He asked me to post the whole story in the comments, and DimeStories went on to post the audio on the home page of their site. Awesome, awesome, awesome!
Now here’s the problem… My mother is mortified I wrote the story. It makes people squeamish. When people laughed at it during the reading, their eyes were wide and they covered their mouths with their hands in embarrassment. It is an oh-my-god-is-she-really-saying-that story. And I read it with all the gusto it deserves, which makes it even more atrocious.
So, here I am a professional writer with my own successful business. Do I keep news of my fiction away from my clients? Would they approve of a freelancer who writes copy for their website one minute and off-color fiction the next? Isn’t this like the female police officer who moonlights as a stripper? I’m really torn. Frankly, I love this piece. It makes me laugh, and it doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all to read it aloud. And I can’t tell you how excited I am that it’s gotten so much attention.
My gut feeling is that my present clients wouldn’t mind — in fact, they may get a kick out of it. They’ve known me for a while, and they know I’m a little off. I even sent it directly to a couple of them because I thought they’d laugh*. In addition, I truly hope to one day (soon?) make a living writing my own stuff. But I just sent out a massive mailing to try to solicit more clients. If they root around online and find this piece, would that be a turnoff?
It’s kinda too late now to ask that question. The story is out there, and my name is on it. If there are consequences, I’ll have to live with them.
For your uncomfortable listening/reading pleasure: “The Best Laid Plans of a Professional Meeting Planner”
- The audio (funniest)
- The published version (I love the comments)
*Neither of the clients I sent it to have written me back. Err.
jennywenny on 03 Dec 2009 at 1:02 pm #
I thought it was really funny. To me it is like something I read on a really useful blog about being yourself and being choosy about your clients. If they dont like it, you probably would be better off not working with them anyway.
Its what makes you so endearing to me, that you speak your mind and you’re really funny. I think many people have probably had a very similar experience and are too embarrassed to talk about it.
Lisa on 03 Dec 2009 at 1:11 pm #
In my experience, the clients with a sense of humor and people who don’t take everything so seriously are the best ones to work with. So maybe some people were offended, but they probably aren’t the people you would enjoy working with anyway. I say don’t limit yourself because some people are grumpy. (your mother not included – she has every right to feel exactly how she wants
)
Josh Board on 03 Dec 2009 at 2:44 pm #
I feel guilty. Sort of. As the person that loved your piece and wrote the story for the Reader. You know what is odd? I sent emails to about 10 of my friends, who often go on the site and read these things. I said “Post a comment if you liked her story.” And a few of them did. But one sent me a thing back saying “I found it disgusting. I hate toilet humor and will not comment on such a thing.” Well, this is a woman that gets blastered drunk all the time, telling me this. God, I love idiots.
I, myself, do not like toilet humor. My friends always thought I was weird that I never laughed at fart jokes. I just don’t find them funny.
But, you can clearly tell in this piece, the writer didn’t have all this stuff happen to them. It’s like the way David Sadaris writes about his life (and also gets called out for). Often times, you add to make it funnier and more clever.
I can totally understand if it’s not someones cup of tea, but come on. This is funny stuff.
And, unless you were doing a Diablo Cody (who now wins Oscars), who became a stripper and wrote about it…mom should be proud. And, clients shouldn’t care, as it just shows you’re a lot more creative than they initially realized (or even hired you for).
Beth on 03 Dec 2009 at 2:56 pm #
Josh, don’t feel guilty! I’m so excited about the feedback, even the person who hated it (although I’m glad she’s in the minority). Thanks for blasting it out to your buddies to ask them to comment. You are making me happy.
Paul on 03 Dec 2009 at 3:13 pm #
As a writer, you have the opportunity to write about all topics, even those that make some people feel uncomfortable.
You can leave it to the client as to the “level” of professionalism that you will provide.
Betty K. on 03 Dec 2009 at 7:45 pm #
Loved the story and am glad I could hear you tell it! I suspect your clients know you are a little – what did you say? – off! It’s part of who you are and part of why we all love to read what you write. I say, keep at it. PS: I really enjoyed our dinner last month!
Andrea on 07 Dec 2009 at 12:36 pm #
“There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary.”
~Brendan Behan