6 Cliché Things People Say About Writers
6 Cliché Things People Say About Writers
There are so many stereotypes about writers, I could write a book (but I won’t).
Look over the list whittled down from over fifty clichés I found online or have heard at some
point. Perhaps the intention behind the cliché was to be negative, but I find a positive element in
each, and it is applicable in various situations. We can become stronger in our craft if we pay
attention to how each cliché benefits or hinders our writerly life.
Writers are night owls.
Many assume writers do their best work late at night, burning the midnight oil while the rest of
the world sleeps.
Writers steal material from real life.
There’s a cliché that writers are constantly mining their own experiences and the lives of those
around them for story ideas and character details.
Writers neglect self-care.
The notion persists that writers become so absorbed in their work that they forget to eat, sleep, or
attend to their basic needs.
Writers are always procrastinating.
The stereotype of the writer who finds endless ways to avoid actually writing—such as cleaning,
daydreaming, or waiting for inspiration to strike—is widespread.
Writers are always waiting for inspiration or a muse.
The cliché suggests that writers only work when “inspired,” rather than treating writing as a
disciplined and regular practice.
Writers only write in one genre.
Some believe writers must stick to a single genre throughout their careers, rather than exploring
different styles or subjects.
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