I am going to admit something – I went through this phase for years.
It took me a long time to commit. When I talk about commitment I mean knuckling down and doing the work. Setting my alarm early so I can write before work. Taking my laptop to work so I can write in my lunch hour. Writing in the evenings. Reading everything in my genre I can get my hands on. Writing draft after draft until I think it is worthy of showing to an editor or literary professional. Writing and then deleting hundreds of words because it is not right. Writing on my holiday. Writing over Christmas.
All of the above is not easy.
Here are the telltale signs you like the thought of being a writer but are not yet ready to commit to a writers life:
- You spend a lot of time talking about writing but don’t actually write anything.
- You claim to have been suffering from writer’s block for most of your life.
- You put more effort into trying to look like a writer. You have no idea what a real writer looks like so you use your imagination and plump for a lot of tweed, a beret, a pencil tucked behind your ear and some geeky glasses.
- You spend a lot of time talking about your unwritten debut bestseller.
- You are rarely seen writing by loved ones.
- You get a kick out of announcing that you are a writer at dinner parties and other social events. Most real writers avoid the subject like the plague.
- You change the subject quickly when someone asks to read some of your work.
- You spend hours on social media everyday tweeting and pinning stuff about writing, as opposed to doing some writing.
- You have some elaborate ideas on how your book cover (for your unwritten best seller) will look. A lot of planning and thought has gone into this.
- You put a lot of effort into trying to act like a writer. You have no idea how a real writer acts so you use your imagination. You use a lot of big words in conversations and you spend long periods of your day in a coffee shop, scribbling down notes, sighing loudly and telling uninterested customers that you are busy writing your best seller.
- You sit down at your writing desk feeling excited about actually doing some writing. You stare at a blank screen for a good five minutes, get bored and then call your friend to tell them not to call you as you are very busy writing. Three hours later you and your friend are still chatting.
- You find it difficult to identify with writer friends who are going through writing hell as you have never been through any form of writing hell.
- The thought of spending all day locked away writing does nothing for you.
- You have made some enquiries into the services of ghost writers.
- You have put a lot of effort into making your home like a ‘writer’s home’. You have no idea what the home of a real writer looks like so you use your imagination and litter your house with dusty old typewriters, books that you have never read, posters of J.K. Rowling, an extensive collection of ‘how to write a best seller’ books and pots of pencils.
If this is you – don’t panic.
Writing seriously is a commitment.
If you ultimately want to write a book you have to make room for it in your life and to do this you have to give up some of your free time.
It doesn’t matter if you are not ready. You can commit to writing seriously at any age.
If you are struggling, let the writing go for a bit.
Go live a bit because this will do your writing the world of good when you finally decide to put pen to paper and learn your craft.
Thx – will get to work on my book
I wonder who inspired you to write this? I have to admit, I haven’t yet come across someone who pretend to be a writer… yet. Have a good Wednesday! 🙂
I know quite a few lol 🙂
Really? Are these friends or are they just people you know that are annoying?
Lol – brilliant. “A pencil tucked behind your ear” would remind me more of a builder, but that’s probably just me. Also, I was surprised to read #6. I don’t think I’ve had time for any social events since becoming a writer…
Hello Mr Rossis – nice to you 🙂
Nice to me? 😀
Nice to see you – sorry glasses back on!
Ha ha – ooookay. My ISP has sent me a new router. I’ve spent the last few days trying to install it. Nice to see I was missed 😀
Hmmmmmmm! I did think Mr Rossis is trying to tell me something 🙂 lol!
Do what Electra does when I start talking like that: pick up a book… 🙂
Anyone who acts like whatever he or she is not…overdoes it.
Yes agree! Thx for stopping by 🙂 happy Wednesday
Thanks! And to you too.
Lol #6 yes!
Do you like to announce it at social gatherings?
No i avoid it like the plague and save it all up for my writer friends lol!
Me too!
Yeas, you do write lot … NICHES’ remark about the pencil behind the ear is ‘write on’. Carpenters do this daily … essential that they mark for length. Writing is very hard meant;;y fatiguing work. That is why people avoid it. It is best to have something to say.
Thx Ken – it is hard and fatiguing – good points. Happy Wednesday
Ay yi yi, this is terrifyingly too accurate of my life lately. Need to get back to writing that bestseller stat! *guilty as charged* *ashamed*
Lol! Thx for reading – happy Wednesday 🙂
Very entertaining and scarily accurate. lol
A hoes full of dusty typewriters and books… sounds like a nice writer heaven. Though I might have a laptop in there as well. Just for practicality’s sake, you understand. Nothing to do with the internet. 🙂
Lol – ok will chuck in a laptop 🙂
Sooo funny. Love your idea of what a real writer looks like – will try and emulate :-))
Next June I will be able to spot you wearing tweed, beret and a pencil tucked behind your ear!
That’ll be me – sporting my sexy writer look!
Bahaha! This is adorable! ^.^ I am happy that I can deny (most) of these. :p Though I do fantasize about filling my house with books, the only reason they’d be unread is because I don’t offer myself enough time to read them.
Additionally, I enjoy the writing part, not the editing part. Does that make me a non-writer? :p (Though editing can be somewhat therapeutic if not excessively maddening. Oo! Big words. :p)
I think you are a writer Melanie 🙂 thx for reading!
My you entertain me so! 💛jessica
Thx for reading Jessica 🙂
Haha! Just found your blog – love it. I also write top18 Writing Tips earlier this year, 18 of which are best ignored. – https://tomhocknell.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/writing/
Thx Tom – your article is hilarious! Will check out your blog some more. Thx for sharing the link
Sorry for hi-jacking again! But buying LOADS of books on Creative Writing and posting Inspirational Quotes on Twitter is ALWAYS a good idea. I also blogged on Why I Write..
https://tomhocknell.wordpress.com/2015/08/17/why-do-i-write/
I think it makes me sound lie I know what I’m doing.
Please hi-Jack away! Yes good tips! I will be in touch very soon with some interview questions!
I’ve never seen anyone quite this bad, but there are certainly a lot of ‘writers’ on Twitter etc, who spend all their time pinning those awful things about ‘you know you’re a writer when’, etc, and write blog posts about when they should start calling themselves ‘writers’, and give writing advice after writing one novel that’s hardly sold. And are forever tweeting about their word count!!! The community thing is nice for new writers, in particular, as it can help build confidence, and it’s useful when it comes to information about self publishing, for instance, (I post and re-post a lot of stuff to help new writers not waste time and money on bad proofreaders, uselss publishers, etc) but it doesn’t get a book written.
I don’t think I’ve ever called myself ‘a writer’ out loud. And I HATE talking about my books with anyone. I usually mumble something and change the subject.
Mmmmm…interesting comment Terry! So when are you going to let me interview you on my Author Interviews slot?
Any time you like, Lucy, and thank you for the invitation! Just send me an email – sorry for the late reply, I often forget to check back for blog comment replies 😦
btw, I don’t mind talking about my books on screen/paper! I just can’t do it in real life. Am literate rather than articulate!!
I am pretty guilty of #1 and #11
Other times I am writing non stop like a crazy person. Most times I feel like a space cadet!
Oh my goodness I love that line ‘most of the time I feel like a space cadet!’ – I am crazy or lazy – never a middle ground 🙂