So I did the interview with the women's magazine for the mother/daughter feature. It's all about the similarities and differences between myself and my mum at 28 (the age I am now). It was a fun interview but made me realise both how much and how little I know about my mum.
At my age, I know my mum was married (having been divorced already) and had two kids. That's easy enought to work out even with a basic grasp of maths.
She was also running her own business and generally working like a blue-arsed fly. But I really couldn't answer the question "So what did your mum think of casual sex when she was 28." It's not the kind of thing, however open you are with each other (and my mum and I are the classic 'more mates than mum and child' kind of middle class mother/daughter pairing) that you know. Could hazard a guess to what her attitude is now, but hell, I was four when she was 28. It's not the kind of conversation you have.
"Did you like reading Janet and John today, Emily?"
"Yes, but what I really want to know is what you think of casual sex. And then can I watch Mr Ben please, mummy."
We moved on to how many one night stands I've had. Does anyone actually answer those questions? My attitude to one night stands is that they're inherently pointless; you can tell when you snog someone whether there's enough chemistry (and general skill) to make it worth shagging them. So, if they're going to be crap, don't do it in the first place. And if they're good, why leave it at just the once?
And thus, I evaded the question entirely.
Called my mum afterwards (she's got her interview tomorrow so I wanted to warn her about the questions.) and did discover something that I found mildly amusing. She doesn't visit Cliterati in case she sees anything that turns her on as she'd find it weird.
Am very relieved. There are some ideas that, no matter how broadminded you are, you don't want to entertain. I may be being overly prudish but somehow, the idea of my own mother masturbating - to stories that I'd written - is one such idea.
Did some more writing today (shock horror); writing 'Sex Confessions' for a glossy. Was very very toned down compared to my usual filth - and subsequently far harder to write. Stream of consciousness smut is infinitely easier than stuff with a plot and implication/suggestion but no graphic detail. Fun to write though, because it actually feels like I'm working. Apologies cos this sounds poncy as hell but I like the craft of writing as much as the art of it, so I enjoy anything that stretches me into writing out of my normal style. Shit. That does sound poncy. All I can do is promise I'm not one of those people who sits round, inverted commenting things with my hands and talking about my 'art'.
Art aside, have noticed for the first time ever that January is partwork season. Chances are this is something that everyone else realised ages ago, but I never did, until now when I've got a partwork of my own (kind of) coming out.
One such partwork is the Horrible Histories; something that's quite cool cos I knew Terry Deary (the author of 'Horrible Histories') when I worked at ABCtales as he was involved with the kid's version of the site. He's a top bloke; the classic grufff Northerner with an ace sense of humour. I urge anyone with kids to buy the book, partwork and everything else because it focusses on the stuff kids really like about history; the gore and nastiness. It's also very funny and great for introducing kids who hate reading to books.
Anyway, dropped him a line to say hi and see if he fancied a beer. Was dead chuffed when he replied, 'cos I wasn't sure whether he'd remember me (although he did send a very sweet text message when I left ABCtales saying I'd be missed).
Beer drinking is looking very unlikely in the near future because he's about the busiest man in the world (last time I checked, he had about a zillion books out translated into every language in the world, was winning about one award a week and had numerous TV projects going, including one with a very famous comedian which I am so looking forward to watching and will be gratuitously plugging as soon as it's on air in the UK, as, having heard the synopsis, it will be compulsive viewing.)
But we are going to exchange partworks.
Posted by emilyd at January 09, 2003 11:13 PM