The IRS couldn’t begin to understand the real reason attending RWA is a good tax write-off for me.
I went to Romance Writers of America’s national conference in Dallas last week and spent a small fortune on the plane ticket, hotel room, cabs, conference fees and meals. Of course, the IRS recognizes these expenses as business related—bless them—so I save all my receipts for tax time.
But the reason the trip is tax deductible from a government perspective doesn’t really have anything to do with my personal best reasons to go. Business wise, it might be great to network and craft-wise, it’s helpful to sit in on workshops and learn new ways to approach the difficult task of writing a novel. But quite frankly, I go for the people watching.
I’ve met some of my best characters on airplanes. Because I work at home, my trek to the national conference is one of the few times I’m thrust into the world with no kids and time to talk to strangers. My flights have put me next to an engineer (Up All Night), a lawyer (Date with a Diva), and a retired Air Force general (stay tuned for future military guys). During my marathon layovers in far flung cities, I get uninterrupted time to people watch, resulting in new character quirks and ideas for body language. If you’ve ever witnessed a young mom coercing a cranky toddler through an airport, or seen a couple kissing goodbye before a long separation, you’ll understand why airports are great stages for human theatrics.
By the time I come home every year, my head isn’t just buzzing with the latest industry gossip. More than likely I’m processing the wealth of new characters I’ve met in my travels, quietly considering where an intriguing new personality will fit in my next book…
***From a café table to a beach blanket, a seat at the bar to a seat at a baseball game, people watching can be conducted most anywhere. What places do you like to go to people watch? Is there a local bar or park where the most interesting misfits surface? Maybe you have a favorite vacation spot in mind where you are content to just sit and watch the world go by. Share with us your favorite people watching places and I’ll send one random poster a copy of my upcoming sexy suspense anthology, BET ME, a collection that also includes stories by Debra Webb and Catherine Mann.
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What a fun way to discover new characters - and tax deductible too.
I love to watch people at the beach or in the theatre, or just sitting down somewhere to take a few mins rest while out and “people watch”. At a baseball game I am too interested in watching the game.
Nice prize! Count me in.
by Pat L
on July 18th, 2007 at 6:26 am
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I’ve recently had to go to several different airports in: FL, WI, IL, NC, GA both for my own traveling: a wedding and a funeral and/or picking up or dropping off one or another of my 4 children from the airport as they came for the funeral, a wedding and summer visits.
There is such a diversity of people coming, going or waiting (cancelled flights!!). I’d definitely say it’s my favorite place to people watch!
The most unigue, at Palm Beach International Airport- Florida my son went up to a middle aged guy dressed in jeans and a large cowboy hat, with an extremely large trophy 5 feet tall or more ( it was taller than he was as he sat in a chair!!). It turned out he had won the sweet corn eating championship. I’m not kidding. He said he trained for over a year. He was going to try and take it on the plane as carry on. I’m not sure if he was successful or not as that was our destination and we drove home.
by Laurie
on July 18th, 2007 at 6:33 am
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What a great way to come up with new characters for your stories.
I love to go to the mall and between walking from store to store I enjoy sitting and watching people…you see some pretty interesting and unusual sights. Also when we travel and go to a casino I am fascinated with people watching. I truly believe you will see every possible type of person and just about anything will happen when there.
by Shari C
on July 18th, 2007 at 6:36 am
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My favorite people watching spot is Fortnum and Mason’s tea room in London. It’s on the second floor and looks down on the shopping area.
by Laidybyrd
on July 18th, 2007 at 8:44 am
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Oh! The envy bug just bit me hard. I soooo miss being close to a tearoom in my current hometown and your people watching spot sounds so nice, Laidybird!
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My favorite places to people watch are in restaurants and in the mall.
by Crystal B.
on July 18th, 2007 at 9:05 am
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My favorite places to people watch are the mall and, since I don’t drive, in traffic.
by Susan
on July 18th, 2007 at 10:40 am
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I like to go to the park near my house and watch people. Either that or at the beach.
by April
on July 18th, 2007 at 11:13 am
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I like the mall or riding public transit for people watching.
by Sue A.
on July 18th, 2007 at 11:22 am
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Not much chances for people watching in countryside, but when I was living in a town I used to go to the market place or to the castle for people watching at summer.
by Minna
on July 18th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
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The beach is a great place to people watch.
by Maureen
on July 18th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
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The MOA - Mall of America - in Bloomington MN.
by Karen B
on July 18th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
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For me it is at restaurants and the mall.
by Cherie J
on July 18th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
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Places I watch people are at our local Mall and at airports; very interesting.
by RobynL
on July 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
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My favorite watching spot is behind a big glass window during my break at work. The office is just in the third floor. So I think it’s a great watching spot.
by Mona
on July 18th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
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My mom always loved to sit on the front porch and watch people go by. I am a receptionist and have large windows by me so I often watch the people who go by as well as the people who come in to my building.
by Joyce
on July 18th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
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I like to people watch at the mall and at amusement parks.
by Linda F
on July 18th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
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I like to go to the beach and people watch. You see all kinds of funny things. Some, I could have done without seeing. lol
by KimW
on July 18th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
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the mall is good and the library too.
by kim h
on July 18th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
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For me it is a special lookout that I walk to daily. Up in the mountains near our house. You can see forever from there. People on bikes, running, walking and it is a gorgeous sight.
by anne
on July 19th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
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I pretty much people watch where ever I go. Since I work for a live 24/7 broadcast (the day job) I see people everyday.
One of my favorite places though is the Mall. People there can be amazing. I do like the happy hour spots too, though.
by Vicki
on July 20th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
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I’ve got lots of great ideas now. Karen, I’ve never been to the Mall of America, but I bet it’s a great spot! Someone recently told me that the King of Prussia Mall is the second biggest and I’m hoping to plan a visit this fall to check it out :grin: .
***Winner*** The thread winner is Anne, who I’ve contacted privately. Congratulations, Anne, and thank you to everyone who took time to chat this week!
Until next time,
Joanne
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wtg anne
by kim h
on July 21st, 2007 at 11:45 pm
