The Rom-Commers

by Katherine Center

Writers, in general, aren’t exactly the best-looking subsection of humanity.

Well thanks Katherine :(

I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we’re longing for—adventure, excitement, emotion, connection—we turn to stories that help us find it. Whatever questions we’re struggling with—sometimes questions so deep, we don’t even really know we’re asking them—we look for answers in stories.

“It’s not lost,” Charlie said, rapping on his sternum with his knuckles. “I just can’t find it.” “Yeah,” Logan said. “That’s what ‘lost’ means.” “Right,” Charlie said, “I was thinking of the ‘dead’ meaning of ‘lost.’ Like, ‘lost at sea,’ or ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’” Logan shook his head and said, “Writers.”

Bearing witness to the suffering of others? I don’t know if there’s anything kinder than that. And kindness is a form of emotional courage. And I’m not sure if this is common knowledge, but emotional courage is its own reward.

“You want me to take it?” I said. “I’ll take it! And I’ll spray-paint it bubblegum pink and write my name on it in red Sharpie with little hearts! And then I’ll tell everybody I won an Academy Award for a rom-com so rom-commy it was called The Rom-Commers!”

“Life is tiring. Swimming is just swimming.”

“Believing in things that aren’t real? Making something out of nothing? Connecting dots that don’t need or want to be connected? That’s what all the best writers do.”

“Everybody’s a kid deep down,” Sylvie said. “Use your teacher voice. I bet you’ll be surprised.”

“Whatever story you tell yourself about your life, that’s the one that’ll be true.”

“Here’s another thing I accidentally figured out: happiness is always better with a little bit of sadness.”

If you wait for other people to light you up, then I guess you’re at the mercy of darkness.

“There it is. The whole trick to life. Be aggressively, loudly, unapologetically grateful.”

It’s all about the details you notice. And the joys you savor. And the hope you refuse to give up on. It’s all about writing the very best story of your life. Not just how you live it—but how you choose to tell it.