avatarLily Lum

Summary

The article humorously outlines the quirks and idiosyncrasies of a writer's life, suggesting that one is truly a writer when they exhibit certain behaviors, such as writing late into the night, obsessing over writing tools, and dreaming of authorship success.

Abstract

The piece titled "You Know You’re a Writer When…" presents a lighthearted look at the telltale signs that indicate someone is deeply immersed in the writing life. It lists 17 humorous and relatable traits, such as the compulsion to write at all hours, the habit of using friends as character studies, and the aspiration to write a novel that will be both published and widely read. The author also touches on the emotional rollercoaster of writing, from the joy of crafting a piece believed to be destined for viral fame to the frustration of rejection. The article concludes with a personal plug for the author's blog and other related articles, suggesting a blend of personal experience and professional advice in their writing.

Opinions

  • The author believes that true writers are driven to write at all costs, even at the expense of sleep and social activities.
  • Writers are portrayed as being deeply invested in their craft, to the extent that they see potential stories in everyday interactions and surroundings.
  • There is a sense of humor about the writing process, acknowledging the eccentricities and superstitions that writers often develop.
  • The author implies that writers have a complex relationship with their work, balancing between the dream of success and the reality of rejection.
  • A writer's identity is closely tied to their work, as evidenced by the desire to be recognized for their night-long writing sessions and the creation of their "masterpieces."
  • The article suggests that writers have a unique connection to books and literature, treating them as both inspiration and sacred objects.
  • The piece reflects a personal aspiration to achieve literary success, as indicated by the bucket list items and the framed New York Times cover.
  • There is an underlying appreciation for the craft of writing, despite the challenges and oddities that come with the territory.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

You Know You’re a Writer When…

17 ridiculous facts that will no doubt prove you are the next Hemingway

  1. You’re so tired your eyes are closing but you continue typing away at your keyboard anyway because this is the one piece that will become viral… you just know it.
  2. You wake in the middle of the night to check your stats, literally.
  3. You look at your friends and colleagues more than characters in a novel or article. Seriously, I have a gold mine of very interesting characters! (just kidding. Maybe!)
  4. An idea comes to you and even though you were just about to finally close your eyes, you have to at least get the title down, right? Then 3 hours later, your eyes puffy and almost completely closed, but the sun is coming up. Oh, how quickly you forgot your day job!
  5. When you want to use an alias so you can have complete freedom to write about all those interesting characters but then how will people know it was you who stayed up all night writing that masterpiece?
  6. When staying in to write is more fun than going out, not that any of us go out anymore.
  7. When staying in to write is more satisfying than oh wait, never mind!
  8. You buy books from authors you want to emulate. You love books; you revere books; you display them like art, and you never let go of the good ones.
  9. The number one item on your bucket list is to become a writer that actually gets paid to write. What a novel idea!
  10. The number two item on your bucket list is to write an actual novel. One that people will buy.
  11. You have a million novels already written inside your mind.
  12. Your retirement plan is to write that novel. Seriously.
  13. You have a ridiculously expensive collection of magazine subscriptions that would be completely boring to anyone else
  14. You have a framed New York Times cover from August 17th, 1963 on your wall next to some other prints of New York. You love New York, oh wait, that’s me. Sorry!
  15. You cringe when you see someone fold a page in a novel.
  16. You spend hours fantasizing about all the places you could suavely write, and all the cafes that will get those creative juices flowing faster than your vanilla latte.
  17. You curse yourself because it’s really, really late and you’re still writing!
  18. You will never understand how your writing was rejected because obviously, it’s the best damn masterpiece ever written by man ever obviously.

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