Weird Things About Writing

Accepting compliments on my work is, for me, the second hardest thing about being a writer – which is ironic, because I write to create an emotional reaction in people, then flip out whenever they have one.  But if you tell me that you like my work, I’ll just sort of stammer and say “thank you” and be grateful and then be utterly not sure what to say at all.
I try to thank everyone who leaves a kind comment in my story, but compliments are a very kind gift that I have trouble receiving.  So if you tell me you liked something of mine and I move to change the subject, it’s not you – I’m actually very flattered – but me.
Dysfunctional Ferrett is dysfunctional.
In other news, my Apple-invents-the-time-machine story iTime was given an inadvertent boost by Steve Jobs’ death – I’ve seen at least four links to it from people going, “Yeah, Steve’s dead, and here’s this cool story about a new Apple device!”  Which is a little odd, and ghoulish, but I guess it’s not like I planned it – and as Kaj Sotala noted, it’s also a clear reference to my essay on making money off of the recently deceased, “He’s Dead, Jim – Did We Stock Up In Time?”
Life is odd and messy.  I guess that’s why it’s so compelling, like a slot machine that never quite pays off but sometimes does.