Myths about writers

Namaste and welcome to my website. There are several myths surrounding writers. Let’s talk about 8 interesting myths about writers and get them debunked. Sometimes, these myths scare aspiring writers and keep them from getting on with their careers. 

Are all writing myths true?

Myths are usually of unknown origin and traditional which are believed to be true. Most of the time, myths are false. There are several writing myths, but we will discuss 8 interesting myths about writers in this article.

Myth 1: A perfect first draft

Fact: Many people feel that writers are perfect at what they do. They feel writers can churn out a perfect first draft and the work is ready to be published. Some budding writers feel bad for their draft and have self-doubt about their skills. The first draft is messy and requires a few editing rounds. 

During editing, plot lines might be changed and numerous spelling and grammatical errors may be encountered. After getting professionally proofread and edited, some errors can still be spotted in the final product. It can be embarrassing for writers, but as long as they are minor, things are good. If you don’t hire a professional proofreader or editor, you will lose credibility due to errors. 

Myth 2: Writers are experts in grammar 

Fact: Another myth about writers is that they are perfect at grammar and spelling. This can be a hurdle for newbies. Writers are NOT language experts. They have the skills and ability to write stories from ideas and usually have a good grasp of the language. But, they make mistakes. Writers should focus on making the story engaging, fun and appropriate for their audience. Minor spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors can be fixed with the help of professional proofreaders and editors. 

If the first two myths were true, there would be no need for editors and proofreaders. Editors and proofreaders are required for almost all the books or articles which are published. Even experienced best seller authors make mistakes in their drafts.

Myth 3: Writers are introverts

Fact: Many people feel writers are introverts, but this is not true. Writers can be introverts or extroverts. Some prefer to write in a secluded space, while others prefer cafes or public spaces. Being an introvert or extrovert doesn’t affect your writing capability. 

Writing in a peaceful environment is a preferred choice for many writers. Writing requires some dedication and skills. For some, writing is creating their fantasy world and living in it.

Myth 4: The writer’s block is a myth

Fact: Dr. Edmund Bergler coined the term “writer’s block” in 1947. It is the phase or period where a writer is not feeling inspired or motivated to put their ideas on paper. Writing is a very challenging task that requires a high level of creativity and thinking. There can be various reasons for suffering from writer’s block. They can be a lack of inspiration, stress, financial troubles, depression or any other mental illness.

Writer’s block can hamper creativity and there are some ways to get out of writer’s block. Try going out for rides or a nice vacation to cool down your mind. Writing a diary, maintaining a schedule, reading a novel or doing some exercises, especially mind-relaxing ones can be beneficial in dealing with writer’s block. 

Read this article to get more insight about writer’s block.

Myth 5: Writing is easy

Fact: Another interesting myth about writers is that it is so easy. Everyone gets ideas, but only a few can put those ideas into words and turn them into books or something worthy of publication. Writing a book differs from writing an essay. Continuous dedication is required to complete a story. There are many who write halfway and give up as finishing a 300-400 page project is not an easy task. 

Completing a manuscript is just half of the work done. There are other steps to be completed before the project is published. So, writing and getting the project to publication is a tough job.

Myth 6: Writers make a lot of money

Fact: Not all writers are millionaires or billionaires. There are writers on bestseller lists who make a lot of money. But, not every author becomes a bestseller with their first published book. There is usually a lot of struggle and hard work involved before that. At the same time, there are several writers who struggle to make money. Many resort to a day job or rely on different forms of writing for support. 

Myth 7: Writers only write novels

Fact: Writers engage in different forms of writing. There are a variety of writing jobs such as news writer, health writer, medical writer, bid writer, copywriter, ghostwriter, marketing, content writer, proofreader, editor, novelist, technical writer, blogger, speech writer, resume writer, screenwriter etc. Think about what interests you and pursue a career in that field.

Check out my blog “How to make a career in writing?” for details on this.

Myth 8: Writers need to read and write daily. 

Fact: Writers should try to read and write regularly. But it might not be possible for everyone who has a day job or other responsibilities. Majority of writers love reading, so they often read. Writing daily is good advice and a habit. When you start writing, you get immersed in the story/project and the words might flow. If you write every day, you will feel close and connected to your story/project and writing will be relatively easy. But, if you have a few days or a week gap, you might find it difficult to connect with your story/project and feel lost on how to continue. So, try to be regular in writing. Writing for a few minutes or hours is your choice. 

Conclusion

Writers don’t always lead a glamorous life, so if that’s the reason you want to pursue writing, please don’t. Like other professions, writing requires consistent hard work and upgrading your skills. There are various writing styles and sectors to choose from. If you are interested in casual writing, you can try writing novels, non-fiction books or children books. You can get training to update your skills as a bid writer, medical writer, technical writer, proposal writer, news writer or resume writer. 

Don’t let any myths about writers stop you from pursuing your dreams. I hope you enjoyed reading 8 interesting myths about writers. I have two children’s books which can be a good source of learning for your young ones. 

Check out ‘Story time with proverbs’ ‘Story time with proverbs part-2’.

You can follow me on my social media channels Fb page, Insta page or LinkedIn