7 Misconceptions About Being a Writer
There are many preconceived notions about how writers become writers.
When I first started my blog over a decade ago, the writing community intimidated me. I wasn’t a reporter with a journalism degree. I wasn’t a novelist who attended writing workshops. I wasn’t even a member of a writers’ group, either online or in real life.
I was just a woman with some ideas and a passion for writing.
But here I am. I’m a writer. And when anyone asks me what I do for a living or what I write about or what I studied in school or how I find the time to write, I end up looking at surprised faces when I share my answers. Sure, my route to becoming a writer was unconventional, but I’ve found that I’m far from the only writer who created a path that seems different than most would expect writers to follow.
There are many preconceived notions about how writers become — and continue to be — writers. Here are 7 misconceptions I had before I became a writer:
Myth #1: You need a degree in writing to be a writer.
During a recent conversation with an acquaintance about how I got into writing, she was shocked to learn I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. I don’t have a degree in journalism or an MFA or anything remotely related to writing. In fact, the most influential class I’ve ever taken was probably Mrs. Bytheway’s 10th grade English class.
After that conversation, I went to Twitter to ask my fellow writers what their educational backgrounds were. Responses ranged from degrees in political science to marketing to kinesiology to social work to history to fashion promotion to nursing to physics. A handful of responses did include writing-related degrees, but it was clear from the answers that one can indeed succeed as a writer without holding a degree in writing.
Myth #2: You have to quit your day job to be a writer.
It would be great if we could all support ourselves solely with our writing, and while some writers can, many can’t. But having a job that has nothing to do with writing shouldn’t prevent you from writing.
I wrote regularly on my blog while I was a kindergarten teacher, scribbling notes to myself while my students did classwork and publishing blog posts after work when I got home. Some writers, like those in the supportive Twitter group known as #5amwritersclub, get up early and squeeze in some words before they leave for work or before their kids wake up.
It’s all about making time to pursue that passion, to get words on the page when you can and being proud of your progress regardless of the speed.
Myth #3: You always need huge blocks of time to write.
When I blogged as a stay-at-home mom, I used my daughter’s nap time to write. It was a two-hour uninterrupted stretch of quiet writing time every day. But then my daughter stopped napping. And then I went back to work. And then I was a single mom. And then…life.
Life doesn’t always lend itself to large blocks of time to write. Sometimes it does, and that’s great. I love when I find a long stretch of time in my busy schedule dedicated to writing. But I no longer count on it. Instead, I take advantage of pockets of time throughout my days, whether I’m sitting around at my son’s track meet or I’m waiting for the casserole in the oven to be ready.
Thirty minutes here and there can add up to a lot words.
Myth #4: You have to write every single day no matter what.
Let me start this myth by saying I highly recommend writing every day. Writing is a practice that requires regular flexing if you expect to produce good writing, improve your skills, reach your goals and maintain momentum.
That being said, if you miss a day because life happened, give yourself a break. And then pick up where you left off the next day.
Myth #5: Writers don’t need to read other writing.
I’ve always been a voracious reader. My love for reading is probably why I always wanted to be a writer. And once I became a writer, all those books I was reading grew into more than mere entertainment. They became lessons.
Reading a variety of genres, from novels to reported articles to memoirs to blogs, teaches me more about the art of writing. Even books I’m not crazy about inspire critical thinking from a writer’s perspective. What went wrong? What went right? What would I have done differently? How can I apply this to my writing style?
When I don’t have an opportunity to write or I’m feeling blocked, I pick up a book or a magazine and I read, reminding myself that even though I’m not writing, I’m still dedicating time to learning more about my craft.
Myth #6: Rejections mean you aren’t a good writer.
I’ve had so many rejections I couldn’t even begin to throw out a number. Most writers will tell you the same. While rejections are a frustrating bruise to the ego, they don’t have to be total bummers that lead you to question your abilities.
I’ve sent ignored pitches, I’ve been ghosted by editors after acceptances and I’ve received rejections with no explanations. But I’ve also gotten constructive rejections with suggestions to improve essays that helped me ultimately get pieces published, I’ve received rejections with explanations that helped me improve my pitches and I’ve gotten rejections that praised my writing despite a publication’s lack of space to publish me.
Rejections are learning experiences. They’re also proof that you’re trying. And that’s an accomplishment in and of itself.
Myth #7: You have to get published by a certain age.
I was 33 when I started my blog. I was 36 when I started getting paid for my writing. I’m now 43 and still trying to finish the two books I’ve started.
I used to worry I was running out of time, but now I tell myself that my time for book publishing will come when it comes, just as my entire writing career did. As long as I continue writing, continue adding words to those works in progress, I’ll continue to get closer to my goals.
It’s never too late.
