Defining “difficult?”

We all know people who are “difficult,” right? People you have to tip-toe around because no matter what you say or do they’ll assume the worst rather than the best, people who love to stir up trouble, people who complain. I try not to spend too much time around difficult people (that, or I go out of my way to BE NICE to difficult people in hopes that a little kindness will turn a difficult person around)…and I try very hard not to be a difficult person myself.

I think most writers (well, children’s book writers anyway…) take great pains to avoid being thought of as “difficult.” My agent really put things into perspective for me this morning, though. She said, “You’re not being difficult if you’re objecting to being treated badly. Difficult is when you complain even if you’re being treated well.”