As I sat one night watching a movie on DVD, I thought I could have written that better. And then I thought, wait–most people when watching a movie don’t think that, even if they didn’t like the movie. They move on with their lives. It got me to thinking about what separates us writers from the rest of the pack. Here are ten signs you are a writer:
- You read a book and think “I could have written that better”.
- You watch a movie and think: “I could have written that better”.
- You carry a pen and notebook with you at all times because you know that the muse is fickle and can strike at any time, like in the middle of your son’s soccer game.
- You wake up in the middle of the night thinking about the book you are writing and sometimes if you are lucky, it will be a solution to a writing dilemma or it will be a snatch of dialogue or a plot twist.
- You start to believe that the characters you are writing about are real people.
- You know who all the agents are and “what they are actively seeking”.
- You read voraciously and heaven on earth is being in the middle of a bookstore or library for a few hours.
- After your children, your writing is your most cherished possession.
- Writing is 24/7 even when you are not physically doing it. If you are not parked in front of your laptop or penning in a notebook, then you are constantly thinking about what you are going to be writing next. Anything that does not require your full blown attention (i.e. like being a passenger in a car or waiting for the movie to start at the theater) has your mind thinking about writing.
- You cannot imagine not writing because it is such an extension of yourself. You are your happiest when writing because it is who you are and it is what you are meant to be doing.
If you have any to add share them in the comments below.
Kathy H says
Interesting, Michele, and so true! Other things that I think writers experience uniquely are:
1. Having friends say you should write the very interesting story of their life.
2. Having to tell family that you have the (invisible) lightbulb on the top of your head switched on, so they won’t inadvertently talk to interrupt your internal writing.
3. Free time? What’s free time? Any time not occupied is writing time.
Heidi W says
I don’t have any children, except for the characters in my stories š They are real! And they are some of my most cherished possessions, though I don’t feel like I own them. They are some of my best friends.
It is true about the notebook and jotting down ideas in the middle of just about anything. (Even things that -should- be taking up my complete focus :D)
Theresa says
No matter what you do, even if you swear off writing for good because you’re frustrated or blocked or whatever, sooner or later, your “muse” or your characters come knocking with a new idea, or a new outlook on an old one.
Michele Brouder says
Thanks for the feedback, ladies!
Theresa, you’re absolutely write when you say that sooner or later, the muse returns if only to annoy you until you pick up your pen.
Heidi, I find inspiration comes to me at the oddest times: like when I’m supposed to concentrating at work or something equally important.
Kathy, there is absolutely no free time if you’re a writer! When you’re not writing, you’re thinking about it!