Spouses of Writers

My husband is learning what it means to be the husband of a writer. First, he pays the bills. He is, on occasion, my driver, my bringer of lunch, my hauler of boxes. When I’m having “a good writing day” he takes over all the household stuff. At the fair, he missed my reading because he was staffing my table. But that’s fair trade – I miss most of his gigs because I’m taking care of things at home. He gets to discuss eyebrows on otters, whether buffalo can sing, and the characteristics of spiders. He honours new manuscripts and new contracts and new books, awards and nominations and cheques in the mail. I would wish every writer to have a such a partner.

Maureen