So I often get stopped by people who read my stuff and find out that I'm the Riva Pomerantz who writes. And it's a funny thing, really, because very often they'll say, "YOU'RE Riva Pomerantz?! You're so...normal!" A friend of mine told me she had a guest over for Shabbos and they must have been talking about my serial, Green Fences, when this guest said, "You'll never believe it. I MET Riva Pomerantz, at the grocery store, and guess what! She's NORMAL! She's actually really nice."

Now, I don't know about you, but I have mixed feelings on this. Basically, I'm wondering about the implied belief that people with any sort of name recognition are expected to be anything less than "normal". Like, if you get published does your laundry suddenly disappear? (Or are we writers supposed to be making so much money that we can afford full-time, live-in help!) Do our kids magically stop having tantrums, and our dishes get washed and put away by themselves? (Major disclosure here, folks: At risk of revoking my "normal" status to descend to "sub-normal", I will bravely reveal here the highly personal, unabashed truth: I have no dishwasher! GASP! Are you sure you still want to read my stuff?)

So after I ponder whether a modicum of fame must needs banish one's normalcy, I'm on to the next dragon: Is it okay to be NICE when you're a published writer? Like why the shock that I'm "ACTUALLY NICE"?! Is it bad for my image? Should I be stuck-up, arrogant, condescending? Will that conjure up more of a mystique, of exquisite exclusiveness and propel me into a class of my own? Is it jarring to readers to find me smiling, shmoozing, and asking them what they're making tonight for supper? I asked my husband if, in the name of career, he thinks I should actively work on becoming a snob. He doesn't think so. ;-) Shucks. It would be so much more fun to devote myself to working on being snobby than avodas ha-middos (self-improvement) in the other areas, y'know, like judging favorably, avoiding anger and selfishness--type of thing! What a wise husband I have :-).

 


Comments

Tzipi C. link
11/18/2008 06:10

Hey Riva!!

First of all thanks for posting on my blog!

Second- THANK YOU for Green Fences!!! Its the one thing that keeps me buying the Mishpacha every week these days. You got a good story going there and everyone I know is impressed by it so far.

Keep writing and Mishpcha can be guaranteed a subscriber- Me!

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A Clevelander
11/18/2008 10:22

I second Tzipi. I love Green Fences! Thanks so much for it. It's the first thing I read every Shabbos...even before kabbalas Shabbos! It evokes so many emotions, thoughts, past memories...it's great.

And now you have a blog! It's definitely getting added to my reading list. Looking forward to hearing more from you!

p.s. That line about expectations in the comment you left on Tzipi's blog is so true.

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The Jewish Side link
11/28/2008 08:00

Hey, so I found your blog through a comment you left on JAP's blog. I haven't really read much in the Mishpacha or other Jewish publications. But last shabbos after reading this post I decided to check out the Mishpacha, and I saw the thing you wrote about the Ten shidduch tech questions, and I thought it was hysterical. I haven't checked out green fences yet though.

As one who's not a famous person yet, I would understand why people would have that reaction. But you bring out a good point, you still have the same obligations and chores just like everyone else, so it is a normal household after all.

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