Over the years, I’ve fielded a lot of questions about writing and my path of becoming a writer. When talking to non-writers, sometimes I get the impression that they think I’m another species. Like writers are these rare, mysterious creatures who defy all social norms. Maybe this is why there are so many strange assumptions about writers out there.
Not all assumptions are bad. Sometimes people assume things about me that kind of feel like compliments. But there are also assumptions about writers that categorize us as superhumans with supernatural powers. Or take the opposite approach and regard writing as a silly, extremely unserious hobby. I’m not a fan of either of these extremes for obvious reasons.
To give you a taste of what I’m talking about, here are the seven most common misconceptions about writers that I hear. And most of these are generally untrue . . .
7 Common Assumptions About Writers
1. Writers Are Extremely Awkward Introverts Who Hate People
Okay, maybe this one is half true since writers are more likely to be introverts than not. I admit that I myself am a recovering awkward person. It still strikes on occasion, but these days, people are shocked when I say that I’m introverted because I’m also extremely good at communicating. I get along fantastically with people one on one, and in my experience, this is broadly true for most writers.
There’s a stereotype that writers are weird recluses who write in their mom’s basement. In reality, most writers LOVE to talk. Especially if it’s about books or anything that isn’t small talk. Most writers I know are fascinated with human behavior, hang out in places where they can people watch, and present themselves very well both on and off the page. Writers are just smart people, and we care about our relationships—even if big, loud crowds aren’t generally our scene.
2. Writing Is So Easy that Anyone Can Do It
Ugh. This might top my list of most annoying assumptions about writers. What we do isn’t all that hard, right? Because anyone who can talk can write. (Can you hear my eyes rolling from here?) I’ve encountered this perspective A LOT in my corporate writing career when people give me an atrociously written document and ask me to “work my magic” on it. Because what I do is magical. It doesn’t require much work. Or time. Let alone talent or experience.
In reality, honing your craft as a writer takes thousands of hours of practice and hard work. Not to mention the humility to review your work again and again and accept feedback. While I think anyone can put in the work to improve their writing, the people who build successful writing careers are the ones who have an inherent love for language and good instincts when it comes to story and characters. That spark of passion for the written word is something that most people just don’t have. Which is why tons of people want to be writers and very few go on to write professionally.
3. Writers Are Messy—Just Like Traditional Artists!
I have an interesting perspective on this one because I was a visual artist up through high school. Unfortunately, the stereotype of the disorganized painter has some truth to it. Not all artists are slobs, but there’s definitely a streak there of unbridled creativity often accompanied by messy rooms, crazy backpacks, mismatched socks, and ink and paint-stained hands. Those stereotypes come from an extremely real place, especially for career artists rather than people who only dabbled in the field like I did.
I’m sure there are writers who are also messy people, particularly pantser or gardener writers. Those are the writers who write by the seat of their pants and take a more organic approach to their projects. But in my experience, there are way, WAY more writers in the world who are uptight, OCD, and super organized. Writers can be extremely anxious people, and a lot of us cope with that by planning things meticulously. The type of writers who finish books and write professionally tend to be disciplined, conscientious, and anal-retentive. Basically the opposite of messy and carefree.
4. Writing Is Just a Hobby Because It’s Always Fun
Argh, some assumptions about writers paint our profession like a fun pony ride that distracts us from real life. Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather be writing than doing anything else. Writing is fun, and it’s definitely an escape from the monotony of the daily grind. But writing is not all sunshine and roses.
Writing is time-consuming work that can often push us to our limits. It can be frustrating, draining, complicated, and emotional. On the worst days it can feel like beating your head against a brick wall for hours. At times writers question our self-worth and even our sanity, but we keep at it because writing is a huge source of meaning for us. Writers don’t just write to escape. We write because we have something to say, and true professional writers take their craft quite seriously.
5. Writers Base Their Characters on Real People
I hear this one ALL THE TIME. Caveat: there are writers out there (often young writers) who write their whole friend groups, families, and worst enemies straight into the pages of their novel. But the fact of the matter is that most people aren’t interesting enough to make good fictional characters.
More often, writers pick and choose traits they encounter in real life and in the books they read. We definitely draw inspiration from real life, but we’re just as likely to lean on or subvert classic archetypes for our characters as we are to write our wacky Aunt Mavis into a story. More frequently writers write themselves into a story without meaning to. Even then, main characters are often the person writers wish they were rather than the person they are in real life.
6. Writers Are Generally Depressed
Admittedly I understand where this stereotype comes from. Creative personalities do tend to suffer from mental health issues more frequently than your average person. I wrote a whole blog post about historical creatives turning their own suffering into beautiful art, but that isn’t to say that all writers are depressed. Or even most of them actually.
To be clear, many writers do struggle with anxiety and depression because people with mental health struggles often turn to writing to help them cope. But most writers I know write because they have deep thoughts and deep feelings about the world, not because they’re depressed. Even the writers who do have mental illness struggles often manage these struggles really well in order to have a successful career. Writing novels is hard enough even when you don’t struggle to get out of bed every day.
7. Writers Are Broke and Can’t Make Money
Of all the false assumptions about writers, this one I actually believed once upon a time. I almost didn’t pursue an English degree because of this fear, but that’s a story for another time. Today I’m very happy to be a living, breathing example that writing can be a real career that not only makes money, but also supports a successful lifestyle.
I can’t speak for fiction writing since I’ve yet to sell one of my books, but I can definitely speak for copywriting, editing, and corporate content creation. I’ve built a career on these activities for more than ten years, and I’ve been fortunate enough to use these skills in marketing departments at several different tech companies. This career has allowed me to support myself for over a decade, travel to Europe four times, and afford a house at age twenty-eight.
If you want to turn your writing skills into your job, take it from me that it’s more than possible to make a living wage as a writer. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! ❧
