We’re all bound to have one. That one writer who sneaks their way into our circle of friends, steals our hearts and eventually our term papers. They’re a little weird, mystical perhaps, and definitely always the first to correct the “they’re, their, there” situations of life. & that someone, is me.
It’s not easy being a writer. Constantly thinking of the grammatical issues that plague this world. The constant editing and perfecting of everything we read and write, whether it’s a comical blog that’s supposed to have errors (like me), or a novel that stretches out over months to read at a time. While it’s not easy being a writer, it’s certainly not easy understanding one. So, I’ve compiled 10 things you need to know about us writers, that will, hopefully, get us out of the stereotypes of this world.
- We do not all want to be teachers. Step your knowledge game up and realize an English degree does not mean we’re going to be teachers. That’s so archaic. I can do literally whatever I want. Including staying in my pajamas all day and writing, if that’s what I feel like.
- We are not all alcoholics and druggies. I’m serious. For some reason, the ‘writer’ cliche includes a lot of scotch. Or bourbon. I’m more of a Bourbon girl myself, HOWEVER, I am not an alcoholic or a druggie. My writing does not create a slave out of me, and I do not succumb to the pressures of this world by forcefully drinking a lot (unless it’s a Friday night and I have nothing else to do).
- We don’t wear all black. Okay, sometimes. But not all the time.
- We are not always the Type A when it comes to grammar and punctuation. Okay, I admit, I may twitch on occasion if I see a blatant spelling error, but I’m not going to spazz out or go crazy on the person who wrote it. I may pull out my pen and correct it myself, but I won’t hurt THEM.
- Writing takes effort. To contradict my previous note, I do NOT sit at home all day in my pajamas and write. I have responsibilities and errands to run like everyone else. I truly believe people think writer’s don’t have to be cultured or up to speed on anything going on. That we just write our feelings. Uh, no. Every morning bright and early I am up to read all the news feeds that send me daily emails on what’s going on in the world. I can’t write unless I know what’s going on. Writers shape the culture, but the news can shape the writer.
- We’re not all emotional. If you tell me you don’t like my pitch or my story (which has happened so many times before, I can’t even think how many), I’m not going to just break down in tears (or go have that Bourbon). Yes, artists are sensitive about their s**t. But I’m a big girl, and I can handle rejection when it comes. Stop thinking we’re all just walking soap operas waiting for the big tear scene.
- We can be overdramatic, and that’s okay. I can’t speak for anyone else but myself here. I’m a writer with a music and musical theatre background, so yes, I’m dramatic. I exaggerate, I overanalyze, and I am a complete Drama Queen. It will come out in my writing because it comes out of my mouth daily. Do not be mad at the writer who chooses to express themselves! After reading Othello, Iliad or other heroic stories that play on over dramatization, how can we possibly not encompass such a prestigious role as a writer?
- We don’t just date other writers. While there’s nobody else in this world that’s going to understand a writer better than another writer, I am not tied to marrying another writer. I would probably hate it anyway. Everyone would just be writing all the time.
- We can write more than one thing. I can write prose, poetry, research papers and journalistic articles. Stop thinking the writer you meet is one dimensional.
- We get writer’s block too. Just because we enjoy and may partially be good at writing does not mean we are exempt from the Universe stealing our thoughts sometimes. Yes, I get writer’s block. Often, too. Just like anybody else, it is possible for me not to know what I am going to talk about. Yet, society puts this pressure on us that BECAUSE we are writers, I have to always know what I am talking about and be able to just push it out. I’m still human, guys. No more or less. 🙂
