- Writing cuts into your reading time. If you think your TBR (to be read) pile is big now, multiply it by fifty. Then add a stack of craft books on top, along with a small pile of paperbacks your friends wrote that you want to read.
- You will always feel guilty about not writing enough. Whatever you’re doing, you’ll think you should be at the computer. BICHOK (Bum in Chair, Hands on Keyboard), baby!
- As a writer, you will notice problems in books that you never saw before — like when your favorite author switches point of view in the middle of a page and then switches back. This will make you crazy.
- Most published authors worked like demons to get published. Now they work like demons to sell books while at the same time writing the next one. Or so I’ve heard.
- If you are a writer, you will learn that soon as you turn off your computer, you’ll figure out how to improve that last paragraph. Or scene. Or even, gulp, book. Every time.
- Writers are notorious for scribbling on random fragments of paper. You will regularly find scraps with notes written in your handwriting that make no sense whatsoever. Here are a few examples: “coupling — captain — subtext” and “what matters most to Art?” (Who’s Art?) and “add feeling of mud.” (Note: These are actual notes I was able to find without leaving my chair.)
- You will never, ever stop revising. That query that seemed fine last time you sent it? It will somehow have turned to crap the next time you look at it.
- If people tell you they like your writing, you’ll assume they’re being nice.
- If people are critical of your work, you’re likely to believe every word.
- Your children will learn not to trust you to copy-edit their papers because you will see five hundred things they need to change. Or maybe that’s just me?
- You will spend your entire life looking up how to correctly write ellipsis and em dashes or some other bit of punctuation or grammar that you just cannot remember!
There are many more reasons not to become a writer and only one reason I can think of to do it. And that’s because you just can’t help yourself.
Feel free to share your reasons in the comments.
Reading, Writing, Ranting and Raving 
Oh my God. SO true. Especially #10–the 6th grader doesn’t let me read anything any more.
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He may come to appreciate it. Darling Daughter actually now asks my advice.
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Thanks for this. I can identify with ALL of it.
Sometimes I think I should try to compose a book that is made up entirely of my stupid, random scrap-notes that are scattered everywhere.
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Now that would be an interesting book! 🙂
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Loved this and recognized every one. I remember one English paper my son got because the teacher knew he didn’t do it himself. Poor baby. I think he still blames me.
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OOPS, my son got a C- because she knew he didn’t write it.
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Laughing.
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Great blog, Kym! I recognize myself in all of these. (No, you are not alone in #10!)
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Thanks, Wendy. That one seems to resonate with a lot of people, and I did just think it was me. Glad to know I was wrong though I doubt our kids would feel the same. 🙂
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The minute someone learns that you are an author, they have the BEST idea for the next book that you should write. And you bite your tongue repressing the urge to say: “Write your own damn book.”
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Exactly! We’ve got enough of our own ideas, thank you very much – more than we have time for!
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I recognize and resemble each and every one of these reasons. Does that mean great minds all think alike? LOL!
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Absolutely!
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The neverending paranoia and insecurity. While waiting all those long months and weeks for your book to finally come out, you’re convinced any day now you’re going to get an email from your publisher saying “We finally had time to sit down and really read your book and WOW, did we make a mistake! Here’s your rights back and we’re suing you for wasting our time!”
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Thank you! You made me laugh!
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Kym, spectacular blog. Every single one of your points rings so true! I especially loved your random scribbled notes–who’s Art? Loved this!
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I will admit I later remembered but couldnt, for the life of me, at that moment. Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment.
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Loved your blog, Kym. I don’t know why I’m not getting it on a regular basis, since I’m following you (supposedly). Maybe WordPress recognizes I’m a writer and has pulled the plug on me. Or maybe it’s just normal writer’s paranoia.
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Thanks, Becky. It was a fun one to write. When you signed up to follow, did you do it while signed in at WP? If so, it may just be you’re following via WP reader. There’s a box to sign up for it via email.
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you’re a riot!
ELEVEN things that dog our days (and nights) as writers and add to our insecurities.
Thanks I needed those reminders!
Happy New Year.
marylou
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Thanks, Mary Lou, and the same to you.
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Spot on – and you develop a hide like a rhinoceros and learn to accept some people may not like your baby!
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And we learn to understand not everyone needs to like our baby too! Thanks for stopping by and for the comment.
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Nothing to add except this made my evening!
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Thanks very much! Your compliment made mine! 🙂
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