I really like this framing. First dates have a way of setting off so many mental fireworks.1 I will try this over the holidays.
It's good to hear other people share my sometimes-lukewarm relationship with writing. Having external bosses can be a damned good motivator, as you alluded to.
I do get quite a bit from leaving the ideas to stew with negative capability, though, while I'm pulled by the reins of my life obligations.
Footnotes
these are the questions I imagine I might ask myself: Does the book like this place?Should I ask the book about its past? Should I ask it out again?Am I being awkward?What if the book and I don't get along? What if the book gets away?is the book thinking about me now?↩
Footnotes