Hooray for the Stereotype

When I first moved to the USA almost eight years ago, I would never have considered myself especially engaged with my level of Britishness. Over the years it has crept up on me, initially in a small way. I would find myself talking about bacon sandwiches much more often than I used to and making sure I had a good stock of jelly babies (if you haven't tried them I recommend you do so). The next thing I know I have subscribed to Acorn T.V. and I am actually starting to have an interest in the Royal Family.

Now, I want to clarify, I love the USA and especially living down here in Texas. The people are friendly, the scenery is breathtaking and the food delicious, but I have come to believe that all Brits who live here are gradually molded into a stereotype and we don't even realize it's happening.

The first thing I noticed was that Microsoft Office was determined to alter my spelling by underlining all the words with abrasive red lines until I remove the extra "U" that America does not agree with. However stubbornly I may cling to honouring our way of spelling, eventually the red lines wore me down.

Secondly, is tea drinking. As an enthusiastic tea drinker, I certainly did not rebel against this, but the disappointment on a servers face when I don't order a cup of "Rosie Lee" is heartbreaking.

Thirdly, and some would say most importantly, via the mystery fiction that is increasingly available in the USA. Be it books, movies or television we are all immersed in a world where attending a country garden party is a sure fire way to get yourself killed. Especially if one has a chance of winning a largest vegetable competition. We the experienced readers and viewers also know that unless the sleuth has enjoyed at least two cups of tea they will have no chance of bringing the killer to justice.

The fact that British mystery stories are becoming so popular in the USA is a fantastic thing. BBC America and PBS pump episodes of Midsomer Murders, Father Brown, Agatha Raisin and Marple into our homes and a large number of people enjoy it enough to also require streaming services like Acorn TV to be offered. Even in Hollywood there seems to be a reawakening of interest in the works of Agatha Christie.

I hope this popularity with the mystery fiction continues to grow and translates back into the written word. As well as the numerous works of non Brit authors, such as Charles Todd, it would be rewarding to introduce a new generation to the likes of Albert Campion, Lord Peter Wimsey, Gervase Fen et al. In a world that is governed by social media and 24 hour news, sometimes it is pleasant to escape to a nice clean murder and a cup of tea.

Embrace the eccentricity.

Every now and then I read something that makes me long for the familiar sights and smells of home. As a three year ex pat, these generally follow well worn patterns. Watching BBC America tends to make me long for fish and chips and even the slightest drizzle of rain has me scurrying for the kettle to brew some hot tea.

This morning I read an article which reminded me of one of my favorite aspects of home. Plain, honest to God eccentricity. It was announced that tickets are on sale for the fourteenth annual Chap Olympiad, being held in London this July. Billed as a "celebration of athletic ineptitude and immaculate trouser creases"

Events include the pipeathlon, iron board surfing and umbrella jousting. All to demonstrate the importance of being a real Chap. The hundreds of people that flock to this event every year demonstrates that people still embrace the absurd in life. Something that I love to write about.

Naturally, this is not just a European phenomena. The United States is littered with road kill cook offs, snow shoe softball and lawn mower racing. All fantastic signs that the USA is also proudly flying the flag of eccentric behavior.

So in conclusion, I have two suggestions that readers should take away with them. Number one, enjoy the absurd and hunt out some of the uplifting and magical books that positively drip with zany nonsense. Number two, if you find yourself in London this summer, don your finest attire and head down to Bedford Square to enjoy some of the most genteel sporting action this side of the nineteen fifties.



And finally some parting wise words from P.G. Wodehouse, a true master when it came to writing about life's eccentrics:

“There are moments, Jeeves, when one asks oneself, 'Do trousers matter?'"
"The mood will pass, sir.”
― P.G. Wodehouse, The Code of the Woosters

Are Writers Natural Introverts?

Hello everyone!

I have finally joined the modern age and stepped beyond my Facebook comfort zone to begin a blog. With that in mind, welcome to my maiden post and please forgive me for any unwitting breaches of blog etiquette I will no doubt commit.

Last weekend I took part in a Houston Writers Guild workshop. Primarily designed to banish the fears of pitching to agents, the workshop was incredibly useful (I promise HWG didn't pay me to say that). One phrase I heard in particular really stuck with me.

Shelley K Wall, the presenter, made the very interesting observation that the majority of writers are natural introverts. Something I wholeheartedly agreed with at the time. But what exactly does "introvert" mean?

As a Brit, obviously my first port of call was the Oxford English Dictionary. Not having one of those massive volumes to hand I fell back on the OED's equally excellent and much more convenient Transatlantic cousin Webster. I am going to share the definition I read with you now.

Introspective

"Inspecting within; seeing inwardly; capable of, or exercising inspection; self -conscious."

I think the majority of people would, quite understandably, agree with that.

After some alcohol induced thought, my theory of the natural personality of writers changed a little.  Most writers will sit hunched at their laptop long into the night. Typing with weary fingers, juggling creativity with daily life, imparting the story they need to tell. So what happens when that writer has achieved the goal and gets their work into print? They then work like a pack mule to make sure the their book gets into the hands of as many people as possible, be it via electronic means or good old fashioned paper.

When I look at it like that, I can't help thinking that writing a book is perhaps one of the greatest extrovert acts possible! We strive to create a piece of work that touches our readers in some fashion. In doing so we cannot help but show them a substantial portion of our own personalities and thoughts.

Although writers may appear to adhere to the traditional social role of an introvert, when one of us writes a book, I think we are more extrovert than anyone could possibly believe.