Schrödinger's cat

I saw a wonderful episode of Big Bang Theory yesterday. The lead character asks his neighbor out. Both our hero and his neighbor are nervous about the date and ask the hero’s roommate advice. They are both given the advice, Schrödinger's cat.

The theoretical experiment positions a cat inside a sealed box with a radioactive substance. If this substance decays, a trigger mechanism releases a poison killing the cat. Schrödinger used this example to explain the quantum theory of superposition, until we observe the state of an object, it is in all possible states simultaneously. So until the box is opened the cat is both alive and dead. This is a thought experiment and has never injured an actual cat.

While I think this is ridiculous when talking about cats, it relates meaningfully to relationships. Until you give a relationship a chance you will never know if it will work out.

Our hero takes it to mean you never know until you try. My favorite line of the show was after he kisses her and backs away. She declares, “The cat’s alive.”

This also relates to a writer’s work. Until you open the envelope you can be both rejected and accepted. Until you write the novel, you will never know if you will be able to do it well. Until you actually try, you can be both successful and a failure.

Once you’ve tried, you’ve opened the box.

Do you have the courage to open the box?

Taking a class

I am a member of RWA. (Romance Writers of America) A wonderful organization that is a benefit for fledgling and published authors alike. In earlier posts I've mentioned my frustration at writing a query letter. I've read books, searched the web and now I'm going to take a class on the subject.

As most writers know, a query letter is what gets an author through the door. Without one, or with a bad one, even the best novels may never see publication. So this one page letter can make or break a writers career.

According to the rules of the class I can't quote the lecture or share the materials with others, so none of them will appear here. However if general nuggets of wisdom speak to me I hope to be able to share my new understanding with anyone that reads this blog.

Someone very close to me got upset, to the point of yelling, when I told them something they already knew.

This is in conversation. I would never seriously tell an adult, “You know, the sky is blue.”

However, his responses to my observations were, “Don’t you think I thought of that.”, “Do you think I’m stupid.”, and “I already know that.” This wasn’t just hurtful it has made me reconsider giving advice to friends and family in general.

Most people think their way through a situation. They come to the metaphorical tree across the road and mull over various courses of action on their own. It’s my understanding that people talk to others to get their take on the situation. To either get new ideas they'd not considered or confirm their chosen course of action.

It has occurred to me that this particular person may have mental issues that led to the outbursts. This of course means that the problem is his and not mine. Still I think twice before saying anything meaningful to anyone, for fear of their wrath.

It’s unfortunate that discussions with this person are at an end. I will truly miss them.

Do any of you get upset or feel a person is being condescending when they tell you something you already know?

Perfection, like beauty is subjective.

There are those that strive for perfection and are satisfied with nothing less, from themselves and from those around them. But I ask you, what is perfect?

It’s whatever the person looking at it says it is. What is the perfect child? The one that sits on his or her hands with a closed mouth for hours, or the one that fidgets and asks a constant stream of questions. The answer depends on who you ask.

To some the perfect novel is the mystery where you’ve been with the killer the whole time and never knew. To others it must take you to places you’ve never been or to other worlds entirely. Some insist it ends happily, other need it to end with a twist.

Writing a novel that is perfect to everyone who read its pages isn’t humanly possible. A writer can only write the best work they can. Even being a best seller doesn’t make it perfect. Plenty of people take issue with J K Rowling’s writings. Subject, style or voice, there is something they don’t like. Millions of people, children and adults, love her books, but there are some that find it imperfect.

So, what is perfect? It’s like asking what is beautiful, everyone has an answer and no two answers are the same.

Don't worry about perfect. Just write.