When someone shouts “WRITER!” a lot of stereotypes immediately come to mind.
Most of them are to do with fear, and we tend to fling salt and then make for the hills to get away from these types of creatures. HAHHA JUST KIDDING! (Am I tho.) But writer stereotypes can be quite a lot of fun and always somewhat accurate. They didn’t evolve from nothing after all. Someone started it.
Now there are a sheer bucket load of stereotypes out there and obviously we won’t fit themย all, so:
Today I want to list some common writer stereotypes and see if I fit them or not!
I actually tweet a heck of a lot of these on a regular basis and people seem to reply with “hey im bein attacked” aย lot. So I think I’m onto something. Now let’s see just how much of a walking cliche I am.
ย 
1. WRITERS STAY UP LATE AND WORK BEST IN DARKNESS.
โ โย Look I’ll go ahead and cheat for theย very first one, which sums me up entirely. I’M SORRY. But I’m torn for this because (a) I do stay up late because Iย am an insomniac, so hello I will wear this stereotype’s hat, but (b) I actually work best in the morning! But night time I want to dissolve into the mud from whence I came. Being an upright human is hard.
2. WRITERS DRINK A LOT OF COFFEE + GO TO COFFEE SHOPS TO WRITE.
โย Soooo false for me. I do not fit this AT ALL. I barely drink a coffee every six months?!? I mean it tastes nice and all but it does absolutely 0% for me so I find it a pointless drink. Like I’d rather consume blood of my enemies or whatnot. Instead coffee makes me sleepy. THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO DO SGHJSF GHSGH.
And I can’t concentrate with even the slightest noise. I c a n n o t. For goodness sakes, I put on noise-cancelling headphones becauseย the clock ticks. So no coffee shops. HILARIOUS.
3. THE WRITER UNIFORM IS: PYJAMAS.
โย Again! So false for me! I actually hate wearing pyjamas?! I usually wear the clothes I’m going to go for my morning run in so I can save time (the level of over achiever here is wow). And if I do bother to have pyjamas on my bed, mY DOG LIVES TO EAT THEM. I cannot win here.
I am the writer who gets dressed + eats breakfast + brushes my hair = then curls up in bed to take a nap while dictating to my dog because he’s pAYING for those pyjamas he just ate.
4. WRITERS ARE ALWAYS CRYING OVER HAVING TO WRITE.
WRITING MOOD
โย I was going to say “oh! no definitely not!” because I really enjoy writing and it makes me so happy!
BUT. YET.
I still always cry over it. Only internally though, because I have the emotional range of a loaf of sourdough bread. But my schedule is basically:
- begin the book = cry because it’s hard to get the rhythm of it
- write the middle = cry because middles so often suck so you gotta work 50 x harder
- write the ending = cry because it’s OVER and you aren’t ready to say goodbye to your smol cinnamon murder children
Although to be truthful it’s not so much “cry” for me as “cranky whiner”. I’m super good at it. Frowning is my resting face.
5. WRITERS ARE PARTIALLY MADE OF CRUMBS OR ARE SIX DRAGONS IN A TRENCH COAT.
โย This is true. No one should ever be surprised with how fantastically writers fake things. We write stories lies for a living, c’mon! Of COURSE we can fool you into thinking we are indeed human. And I’m definitely made of crumbs because wherever I go, there go crumbs before and after me. My most loyal followers and friends.
6. WRITERS ARE OBSESSED WITH STATIONERY.
โย IT’S NOT A PHASE, MUM. IT’S TRUE LOVE AND I WILL MARRY THE JOURNAL I JUST MET. NONE CAN STOP ME.
Now you’d think being a writer and working entirely on a laptop would mean no stationery needed right??? RIGHT! I absolutely don’t even need a single pen or a scrap of paper to write a book. Do I collect stationery anyway? Absolutely. Does this make sense? Absolutely not. Will I stop? Again, absolutely not.ย ย ยฏ\_(ใ)_/ยฏ
Also no no I can’t use my 1 out of 184 unused pretty journals. My handwriting is horrible. Obviously???
7. WRITERS HATE EDITING.
โ โย I’m going to claim true/false for this because there areย some of my books I freaking LOVE editing. Every time I get edits back I actually do a happy dance * because I loooove spending time in that world.
But when there’s plot holes that look a bit like rips in time in space…haaaaaaa. rESCUE ME, OH PLEASE.
And I hate line-editing / copy-editing because I’m a little bit dyslexic and catching typos is a nightmare.
* This is a phrase here which means: I give a very small smile and blink twice to signal delight because I’m Vulcan.
8. WRITERS WILL CORRECT YOUR GRAMMAR.
โย Faaalse false false faaaaalse. I won’t even correct my grammar, so yours is totally safe here, mate. I do not understand grammar. I swear I did some of this stuff in school (BUT THAT WAS 8 YEARS AGO) and promptly blocked it all because it was apparently traumatic. These days I write with very bad grammar and then slam some word art onto the page to distract my editors from the nightmare that is: me.
9. WRITERS WANT TO DRINK READERS’ TEARS.
โย I WANT NOTHING MORE. My #1 goal in life is for people to say “I CRIED” and I’ve actually been achieving that with my upcoming debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes. And if you think you’re crying forย that…hooooly heck, you just wait until my 2019 book. You’re going to BAWL. * I’m so excited. I’m so so frikkin’ excited.ย
* MY EDITOR CRIED.
10. WRITERS HISS AT PEOPLE AND LIVE ALONE IN A COTTAGE IN THE DEEPEST MOORS.
MY HOUSING PREFERENCES
โย True. I mean. Just true. Do I fit the antisocial writer stereotype, who has been in the same pair of jeans for 5 years and shrieks at sunlight and avoids actual Humans whenever possible? Oh yes, so much yes. Although the saddest part here is that Iย do wear my jeans forever because I HAVEN’T GROWN SINCE I WAS 14.ย I’ve just bought a shirt made for a 12 year old and my mum was like, “Ohh is that too big?? Want me to hem it??”
So yes, I’ll be in my Hobbit Hole if you need me, clearly with my people.
ALONE.
Do you know why I hate commenting on the phone? ๐ cause I have the memory span of a goldfish (apparently seven seconds?) and I just don’t remember what I wanted to say ๐
But you know, I am not a writer, but a lot of these work for me ๐ I work from home. So the pyjamas part works for me ๐ they’re just the most comfortable? I just really hate proper clothes. They’re so restricting, and all those seams! Grr.
And also I love coffee, but it totally makes me sleepy too. I’m just addicted to the taste xD and probably the chemical ๐ life without coffee would be sad? It’s like… what do I even look forward to every day xD I’m jealous of the people who don’t like it! I would rather not drink it, because it’s not very good for you, but gah. Some things are just worth it xD
Also I am incredibly glad to hear about the stationery. I am an absolute stationery nerd. The worst bit about this is that I can’t defile the notebooks by writing in them, so I just stare at them ๐ and their clean perfection. But this is actually fairly common! We have like five bookworms who are also huge stationery nerd. If we start obsessing about something on Twitter, I’ll just tag you next time so you can join us ๐
And also. First comment again! YUSSSSS
I can understand that. ๐ I blame my iPod on the reason I am so slow at answering Instagram comments lol lol the keyboard is TOO SMALL.
Oh I can totally imagine these would fit for a lot of work-from-home people too! I just DON’T get the pyjama one.๐Although I do always choose really soft/comfortable everyday clothes so maybe that’s why I’m good with them still?! I think we need to wage war on coffee tho. Clearly all these people saying “coffee makes me energised” ARE ABSOLUTELY LYING TO US. *stamps foot* If we’re going to drink it, we deserve the benefits. Arghh.
SAME THOUGH. I never write in notebooks.๐I’m using one, miraculously, for my reading lists for 2018 but I keep printing things to put in it because I hate my handwriting omg. I am ALWAYS here to obsess over stationery yessss.
Yeah, coffee does NOT make me energized at all xD although if you really focus on the way you feel, you might notice that although it makes you sleepier to begin with, you have energy later in the day – like several hours later, after you drink it, you have some steady energy. At least that’s how it works for me. But they say that every person is a universe, so I wouldn’t be surprised if your body processes caffeine differently to mine and everyone else’s ๐ I’ve also noticed that there’s a HUGE difference about this in terms of how the coffee is prepared – for example, my mom makes coffee in a, uhm, I think it’s called a moccha? Something like that? it’s basically a stovetop kind of thing, works on pressure, but you still gotta boil it. That coffee makes me all shakey and my blood sugar drops, and I’m all super hyper and it’s FEELS BAAAD, MAN. Meanwhile, I make coffee with an aeropress. You just use this handheld press, pour hot water on the coffee and then press it. Kind of like French press, but more suction. If I make coffee that way, my stomach doesn’t hurt from it and I also don’t get any shakes most of the time. So it matters how the coffee is prepared.
Also, now you know that I am a coffee nerd :DDDDD
And it’s also fairly common to not write in the notebooks you own, cause they’re just too pretty ๐ I want to share my most recent obsession with you though – it’s called ReMarkable and it’s an e-paper tablet, and apparently, it feels just like paper (look up some youtube vids). It’s ridiculously priced though xD and apparently not very portable in terms of file formats (when we have text recognition, I will be shouting TAKE MY MONEY tho.) So I know I will *probably* not buy it, cause COME ON, EVELINA – but I just REALLY REALLY love thinking about buying it :DDDDDD
Every person is a universe?!?!?? Omg I love that??? Next time someone asks me what I do, I’m going to say: ‘I’M THE UNIVERSE’ ๐
Ahem. But yeah, I mean I have no idea. I have a very odd way of processing things apparently lol lol. And I’ve had a mocha before! Chocolate with the coffee right? It made me feel ill because it was too sweet haha. But my sister has had the coffee –> then feels super anxious shaky afterwards. Meanwhile here am I, like if I have sugar/chocolate late at night I sleep SO much better.๐๐๐
Okay I shall go look up this new obsession and probably pine after it too.๐
Nah, that’s not what I mean with mocha… maybe it’s called something else, I’m not sure. It’s a stovetop device for making coffee that creates pressure and sort of makes espresso on the stove, so no machine needed.
I randomly get either sleepy or shaky anxious ๐ a universe indeed :DDD
Maybe I’m wrong about the mocha haha.๐ I’m sure that’s what a type of drink is called though, but it’s prettttty sure that I’m a terrible coffee-knowledge-person.๐
No you’re definitely right about mocha or mocca or whatever! It is coffee and hot chocolate. I just googled it, apparently the device is called “Moka pot” ๐ you can google the images. You might have seen one like that before.
Stereotypes, don’t you just love them! Who doesn’t enjoy people with preconceived notions of who they are even before they’ve uttered a single word. The only things writers have in common I suspect is that they all write. I’m not a writer, I best leave the storytelling to people with skill and finesse but if I was, I’d imagine I would be the only one in bed by sunset and drinking chocolate milk instead of coffee and would need to actually purchase a pair of pyjamas first.
I think that’s where readers need to remember that our authors are people, talented people but people nonetheless. They’re not wearing capes or have super human stamina or able to answer every message, to be in two places at once or be available for readers at our every whim. It’s a bit of banter, but authoring is also very serious business and I have such incredible respect for those who write. So much of their careers are beyond the words on a page and a book shouldn’t equate to an author having to give their time freely either. If you need someone to guard your hobbit hole, you give me a shout ๐ช๐ช๐ช
KELLY THIS COMMENT IS SO WHOLESOME AND ENCOURAGING. LOOK AT YOU GO.๐๐I will definitely hire you as my bodyguard tho, this is a great idea. You can just answer all my comments/messages for me! Isn’t that such a good idea?! Just shout at people and use a lot of emojis and no one will even know the difference.
(I want to be in bed drinking chocolate milk tho. Can I do that and skip the coffee??)
I completely fit the first two. My brain doesn’t work in the morning so I just end up staring at a blank page, but at night I have all my best ideas and if I don’t write them down they keep me awake. For that reason, I also tend to write in pajamas: because I’m meant to be asleep but sitting on my bed in pajamas writing is practically the same thing, right?
And coffee is life for me, though it tastes better made with readers’ tears.
The one I break is the wanting to be alone stereotype. I am an introvert, but a sociable introvert (is that a thing?). Like, I hate being in large groups of people, but if one or two people come into the room while I’m writing my writing is doomed because I’ll just sit and talk for a couple of hours instead.
Great post ๐
Writing at night does seem sort of magical, though, right?! I love that feeling of all the ideas being there for us to use. *flails* ๐
Ohhh maybe I’m just drinking my coffee all wrong?! Maybe I SHOULD BE FLAVOURING IT WTIH READERS’ TEARS!!
Of course sociable introvert is a thing!๐ People think “Introvert” means “shy” but it just means that you recharge best alone, and you definitely need alone time (and like spending tons of time with people is super exhausting if you never get a break). My sister is super outgoing AND and introvert.๐
This post totally made my day. ๐
I don’t know if I can say officially that I’m a writer, even though I’ve loved writing ever since I was a child (yup, I was the classmate who gets excited when there’s an essay to write) and now I’m writing a book, so a lot of these apply to me so well. ๐
First of all, I do work best at night. You know, after midnight it’s when my inspiration comes to play. Also when snacks taste like heaven… Just saying.
I secretly turn into werewolf when there’s full moon (seriously, why else would I wake up more tired than I went to bed, and why would my period be in sync with the full moon?)…
If I see a pretty journal, you can bet I’m going to buy it and never actually use it.
So, I am sending my best friend the chapters of the book as soon as I finish them, and I won’t lie, I feel weirdly happy when I manage to make her cry with it. (I’m not evil, am I?)
And the last one, I HATE BEING AROUND PEOPLE. I’m dreaming of having a house in the middle of the woods or the ocean, so everyone would be too scared to come visit me.
Anyway, I really love your tweets and I’m looking forward to read your book. ๐
Ahhh I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! And OF COURSE you’re a writer if you’re writing something. You don’t have to have finished a book to be called a writer. ๐ Claim that title!
(Also I think writing at night + midnight snacks = are just known to be extra magical, right?!) I’m sure, also, that most writers are probably nocturnal monsters, werewolves and like owls and shapeshifting shadows or whatever. It makes SENSE.
Omg if someone tells me I’ve made them cry with my writing, it’s like the BEST compliment ever.
(Also thank yoooou!! I hope you like my book. ๐ )
Right from the start this post was just too relatable ๐ ๐
I definitely work best in the darkness, I actually have a hard time getting into my writing zone if it is morning and sunny. I wear pyjamas very often, or just comfy clothes. I am antisocial. I like coffee! Grammar is just not my thing, especially english grammar. I have a love/hate relationship with my English classes; when we are doing literature and creative writing there is no better place on Earth to be, but when we are doing grammar I hide behind my desk and pray that the teacher doesn’t notice me.
Why do we even need grammar?? We have our computers to fix our spelling, right?
And, of course, I would enjoy if a person cried over my book. ๐
Hahah so yes, I would say that the stereotypes are right for me.
Such a funny post Cait! ๐
Ahhhh I’m so glad you enjoyed this.๐๐ And darkness is great! I love darkness! I just never sleep, so like literally any time works for me lol lol. And who wants to be social when we have fictional characters’ lives to destroy. (I really hate grammar…i can never remember the rules and it makes me so annoyed how random strangers on the internet will constantly correct it! I mean! Way to be obnoxious, people!)
Writing in a coffee shop can be one of the most glorious things ever. Depends on the shop though.
I can confirm that I am, in fact, six dragons in a trenchcoat.
I KNEW IT. SIX DRAGONS IN A TRENCH COAT!! All secrets are out!!
Itโs like youโre behind me or something, watching.
*turns around slowly to check*
Whew, that would have be freaky. But, itโs like youโre in my head, which would be bad. For you, anyway, and anything you see in there is, uh, my imagination. Thatโs what my doctor said…heโs a doctor so he knows everything.
And now I want to cry and go buy more stationary. MUST.HAVE.JOURNALS.I.WILL.NEVER.USE
And a house deep in the woods is my dream. Surrounded by high walls with automatic turret machine guns that only shoot people and not woodland creatures.
I’M JUST THE ALL-SEEING SAURON EYE. *burns brightly atop a tower* ๐๐
But hey at least you’re not alone with the journal-never-using collecting.๐ I’m 99% sure that’s like a requirement to becoming a writer ha.
(I like houses in woods! But not really a fan of anything to do with guns.)
I love your blog so much! It makes me think of my own blog and it makes me so happy!
Also, I too am a Vulcan and will likely remain that way for the rest of my days. And it is no lie when I say that all writers wish to drink the tears of their readers (with a dash of the blood of their enemies). lol
Aww I’m so glad you enjoy my blog! That makes me VERY happy!! Also *vulcan hi five* ๐๐
The first one is half true for me? I have done a lot of my work at night, but I also have worked in the morning, the afternoon and the early evening, it just depends on the day and when I actually feel like writing! I don’t drink coffee at all and I have never worked in a coffee shop, I usually work at home in my bed. I also don’t generally work in my pyjamas, unless I am working before going to bed. I do cry over having to write when I have to do it but I also cry over not having time to write when I want to, so yeah, I guess I cannot win! I am obsessed with stationary, I have ten thousand notebooks I have not yet used and two that I actually use, but not for my writing, for my blog! I thought I hated editing, but my current phase of editing is actually adding stuff to my book, which I’m quite enjoying. When I get to a point where I have to take stuff out, I will probably hate it. I will correct your grammar, I do want to drink reader’s tears, but I don’t want to be in a house in the middle of nowhere, because I need WiFI!
Working home in bed is THE BEST!! I see all the professional writers with their desks and stuff and I’m like here…having typed all my books on my bed.๐Or on the floor because hey! Sometimes you gotta move around.๐
Crying because you want to write vs crying because you have to write = THAT IS SUCH A REAL FEELING. IT’S TORTURE. IT’S OUR WHOLE WRITING LIFE.๐
I’m half-and-half for #1 too! I don’t work best in darkness, but I sure do have a habit of staying up late… I will also admit that coffee is my one guilty pleasure in life, but I DO try to limit myself to only 2 cups a day. Caffeine addiction is nasty stuff ;P
And yes GIVE ME ALL THE STATIONERY!!! Officeworks is like my #1 favourite store and I actually got a parking fine there one because I stayed too long. Not even kidding. And my first blog post was, in fact, about my love of blank notebooks!
*hi fives for our indecisive natures*๐ I like the flavour of coffee, I just find it pointless hahaa. And it tastes better if you buy it, but THAT’S expensive and I’d rather buy books. But omg can we just admit that writers have this terrifying obsession with stationery and we deserve it all???
Omg I relate to so many of theseโI am such a night owl and am OBSESSED with stationary. No oneโs allowed to even TOUCH the stack of unused journals I have because they already have uses assigned to them for the next couple years ๐ I AM guilty of correcting peopleโs grammar thoughโbut only my friendsโ because Iโm pretty sure everyone would hate me if I were THAT obnoxious ๐๐
STATIONERY OBSESSION HI FIIIIVE.๐ I sometimes admit to printing things to put in my notebooks to save ruining them with my awful handwriting ahem. (I hate correcting people’s grammar! I only do it to my sister to be obnoxious sometimes, otherwise, it doesn’t even really matter, does it?!)
This post. I love it WAAAAAAY too much. I could not stop laughing. It was frightening.
“Also no no I canโt use my 1 out of 184 unused pretty journals. My handwriting is horrible. Obviously???” << ALSO THIS. THIS. SO MUCH THIS. This is my EXACT thought process, and it seriously makes me sick when I take one of my pretty journals and MAR IT WITH MY AWFUL PENMANSHIP LIKE NO. I WILL NOT SCAR YOU, MY BEAUTY. YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND I SHALL PROTECT YOU ALWAYS. *strokes journals whilst hissing softly into the dark void*
And BLESS YOU for not being a coffee-drinking-coffee-shop-going writer!!! I am not alone!!!! #HUZZAH! Literally everyone loves drinking coffee nowadays, and I'm just over here like…no? Ew? It makes me feel super hyper and weird??? I hate it???? Although admittedly when you dump a bunch of chocolate and flavored syrup into it, it DOES have a nice taste. But honestly I'd rather have a hot chocolate or a gallon of milkshake… I ALSO DO NOT WRITE IN MY PAJAMAS. EW. NO.
This post was so much fun, Cait!!! I absolutely love these stereotype posts you do!
EEeeep that makes me hAPPY.๐
And honestly, writers should be MAGICALLY GIFTED with gorgeous handwriting. It just isn’t fair, otherwise?!? I cry at my handwriting and then I print things out to stick in my notebooks.๐I’m such a cheat.
Hey but at least coffee does make you hyper.๐I would like that occasionally. I get sooo tired and literally have no pick-me up except going for a run (AND THAT’S EXHAUSTING ALREADY). I don’t mind the flavour, but I do find it pointless ha. Unless it’s tiramisu or coffee icecream.
This was hilarious, Cait! 1. yes, I’m a night owl. 2. coffee shops n libraries-yes-4 children and dog at home 3. pjs-no-coffee shops n libraries would frown 4. crying? no-enjoy my writing life 5. crumbs/dragons-no 6. stationery? yes-used it more 4 children and 2 novels ago though 7. editing-yes!-love to improve my projects and make them shine (hopefully) 8. correcting grammar?- only of my children 9. ??? 10. live alone? no-hubby and dog are welcome, but alone time-yes!!
Aww thank you! I’m so glad you liked it.๐I’m glad you love editing though! I feel like most writers are shrieking at it, so it’s awesome that you love that part of the process hahaa. ๐
This post is 572543% true, especially the part about writers being dragons and drinking tears, it explains so much. I don’t quite understand how is it that being reclusive and going to write in coffee shops are both stereotypes when they seem kinda opposite???? Like “I don’t like people, unless there’s coffee involved in which case ima lead an army” on how about the stereotype (I think it’s one) that authors enjoy killing off characters? Like I don’t think I got this because I’ll create characters to kill off from the beginning but then get attached and completely twist the plot so they live
You know that is SO TRUE, the whole recluse vs coffee shop writer thing?! But writers tend to seem to be both but yet???? Here they are??? (Well except for me. I’ll just stick to the island.๐)
And I’m like 50/50 for killing characters.๐I actually find torturing them horribly does WORSE for the readers so. *shrugs* I am kind like that.
Funny thing is, almost none of these apply to me. *nervous laughter* The latest I’ve ever stayed up writing is 10:30ish, but I do most of it during the day. I hate coffee as well (blech!) and am usually really excited to write, which is great! I’m also not obsessed with stationary – I have barely any #woops – I enjoy editing though it scares me *shudders*, and I’m a generally social person. Only exceptions are that I wear my PJs sometimes and OF COURSE I love drinking my readers’ tears. *cue evil laughter*
Hello you anti-stereotype here!๐๐ Hey but that’s really cool right?! You defy the norms! Although I have such love for stationery I can’t understand not being addicted to it lol lol.๐ (And readers’ tears are like part of a writer’s diet. This is just fact.)
Indeed indeed! It is fun to “go against” the standards if that makes any sense. Some people can’t believe I’m a writer bc I’m not a hermit who lives on chocolate and coffee and doesn’t sleep and has matted hair. Nothing against those writers, of course! XD
I feel like I could really get into stationary, but I’m #broke and don’t buy very much of it. Which is ironic since I have a pen pal. Idk what’s wrong with me. *shrugs* (Yes they are indeed!)
I actually don’t buy much stationery either, but I covet it sooo bad.๐And hey you are a special little snowflake there. ๐
;_; You must improve your handwriting so you can write in all your pretty journals and not leave them sad and alone… ;_;
Or fill them with stickers for story aesthetics, I don’t know.
I WANT THAT HOUSE ON THAT ISLAND!!! (Except with more trees.)
Besides being a hermit, I got 5 other writer stereotypes. I don’t really stay up late, and I’m moving towards waking up early to write. Then, while I like coffee shops, I hardly ever go to one and I don’t drink coffee. I wear clothes and not pyjamas, and I’m pretty sure I’m a human, not crumbs, so… I mean, maybe I’m an inhuman, deranged lunatic with fangs at times, but I still look human enough. (I’m all for making readers cry! I rather enjoy when a book makes me cry at the end.)
I’m finding editing to be difficult on account of plotholes and not-solid outlines. ๐ But it is fun to work with stuff I’ve already written! Still, I consider it a “hate” for now.
I need to get some pretty notebooks and write in them to balance out the universe…
Honestly stickers COULD WORK. Sometimes I print things out and stick them in.๐ That’s so cheating but like typing is everything and handwriting is hard.๐
More trees would probably be good on that island right?! Imagine the wind.๐ But otherwise: HERMIT LIFE FOR MEEEE. But that is odd that you classify as human and not a pile of crumbs. What is life like??? Must be so weird???
I have such a love/hate relationship with editing. We just scream at each other, but finishing it and actually having a READABLE book is amazing.๐
The ones that are true for me are 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Coffee actually initially makes me feel more sleepy as well, but then after the caffeine kicks in (I think it takes around half an hour for caffeine to start working), it helps keep me awake. ๐
I’m glad the caffeine does kick in for you eventually at least.๐๐ I don’t even know what’s wrong with me at this point, but I’m missing ooooout on being boosted by caffeine omg.๐
It’s so weird because it will wear off really suddenly after a couple of hours. Like, I’ll have had it with breakfast, and then at 3 in the afternoon while I’m trying to do homework, I suddenly feel really tired. My head is heavy, my eyes are heavy, nothing wants to be AWAKE. That’s usually why I make myself Red Rose Tea around this point of time (I always use a bunch of cream a sugar with it though ๐) because it has caffeine! And I need to finish school! And maybe write some of my books! ๐
lol I loved this!!! Iโm not a writer but I love stereotypes and the fact that not too many people actually fit into them, and this post was great!! It made me laugh and relieved my stress – I had my SAT today. So it was fabulous, and also: I loveeeeee stationary!! Itโs the best ๐
Omggg SAT! I hope it went well *sends you all the cake for all your hard work* And I’m so super glad this made you laugh.๐
So much of this is so true, especially about the coffee shops. Working in a noisy place just makes my brain go numb. Even music is too much for me sometimes. Can you write with music?
I don’t even write with music!! I swear, silence truly IS golden.๐
I’m not alone ๐๐ป
I loved this. I haven’t really delved into a writer’s world, but I do like to sit and write occasionally. I’ll definitely say I’m obsessed with stationery, though. I can’t help but love pretty paper and journals and cards and all of it.
Stationery is EVERYTHING. And it also smells good?! Like we love the smell of books, so stationery is just the next step.๐
So… what if I am all of these but wouldn’t consider myself a writer? ๐ oops
Ah hahah you know what you need to do!! You’re all set up to be a writer now!๐
*scoffs* Stereotypes. Created by the mortals I presume?
I work better during the day. Mainly because I’ve just had an entire night to create some epic scenes and I mull them over and make them better before I write.
YAY! I DON’T DRINK COFFEE EITHER! I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE! I much prefer hot chocolate… because sugar…mmmmmm
I have never written anything in public, nor would I ever want to. People could interrupt my battle scenes and there could be injuries.
STATIONARY!!! HECK YEAH!!
I just bought a few notebooks yesterday (because they were pretty and I really needed them because I might want to use them in later life, I’m planning ahead) and my mum said, “Don’t you have enough empty notebooks?” ….. I. Do. Not. Mother. Does thou QUESTION MY LOGIC??? (In reality: I laughed nervously and walked away)
My goal in life is to live in the middle of the forest with my books and my nice stationary, and ultimately left alone. Nice and Safe. Away from humans who don’t understand the need to be isolated with books… because they rarely do. ;_;
This was such a great post! Made my day so much better! ๐
Happy Reading :3
hey but some of them still work! ๐So they’re not all wrong stereotypes lol lol. But omg yes who would choose coffee when hot chocolate exists?! (Although technically I don’t use real sugar in mine, bUT IT’S STILL SWEET AND DELISH.)
Honestly I love your life goals there. That’s all we need —> stationery and a forest and books. And like we’ll let the mailman come occasionally to bring new books. Because BOOKS.
Hundred percent fit into most of these! I canโt talk on the editing side as Iโve never gotten that far but I can see me hating it ๐ great post ๐
Iโm a hermit and live in the middle of nowhere in Wales but also WANT TO DO ALL THE THINGS but then when the things come around Iโm like help me please Iโm a hermit crab.
Ahhhh hello you walking cliche. ๐ ๐๐ TEASING. HEHE. Also omg you live in the middle of nowhere in Wales…consider me super jealous.
I actually fit in with the coffee-drinking stereotype, but I also like tea, so I’m not a complete coffee addict. Then again, I really, really like sunshine. I would write outside if I didn’t get a glare from my computer screen.
When it comes to reading, I hardly ever cry. (Says the person who cried to a book and then a movie in the same day, like, a week ago.) But as much as I enjoy reading, it takes a very special book for me to connect to the characters.
Speaking of books, I can’t wait to read yours! I pre-ordered a copy just the other day, and I’m hoping it will arrive sometime in July and not sometime after the New Year. I can never tell with the mail.
Ayyyy yay for the coffee drinkers! I mean the stereotype had to come from somewhere, right?! ๐ But that’s also awesome you like being outside! I like going for walks, but then I come directly inside and do not exit again for any other reason, lol lol.
(I don’t really cry either tbh. I have teared up a few times, and I legit cried over a 3-minute music video once AND one about a dog getting rescued. But like people?? Pfft.๐)
ANFDSKAFLJD YOU’RE MAKING ME FLAIL ALL OVER THE PLACEEEE! I will be so excited to know what you think! Although, I won’t ask, haha. Don’t worry. I won’t be peering over shoulders ๐ That would be really awkward.
I drink tea rather than coffee but it, too, makes me sleepy. Pretty sure caffeine is a lie. Though apparently that’s an ADHD thing so I’m adding it to the list of symptoms that make me think I might have ADHD and wow there are quite a lot.
I wear pyjamas a lot because I’m lazy and would always rather be asleep. I used to collect a lot of stationery but less so now because I can’t really write? But people still GIVE me notebooks and stuff, even though they know the amount I can write by hand is very small, so I still have plenty of them. I do buy things when they’re a good deal though. I ended up with quite a lot of coloured pens this way. I don’t correct grammar unless I think someone wants me to. I (mostly) like editing, even though it’s hard; I never STOP editing. Right now I would kill to be able to write but I can’t use the brainpower/wrist strength when my finals start this month so it’ll have to wait and it’s killing me (thus I am crying over not being able to write). I’m also completely nocturnal and love making people cry but am perpetually crying about my own characters so *shrug*
Duuuude, you keep coming at me with the ADHD symptoms, I think you have a point.๐I’ve researched it once for a possible character and been like, “Yeah wow this is relatable.”๐
And I honestly never never write by hand unless it’s a shopping list for food or I’m scratching out three sentences to remind myself when I finished drafting a book. (I did some signing recently though and that was woooah. My quota of using MY WRITING HAND for the rest of the year, thanks.)
You’re going to try writing a bit in June, though?? I hope your bones and ligaments behave for it. ๐ญ I’m moving towards the nocturnal era myself, but also the daylight times so basically I NEVER NEVER NEVER SLEEP.
I loved reading this post! There is so much to relate to.
I am completely obsessed with stationary/pretty journals. I want all the dazzlingly cool journals, but then I am afraid to use them? It’s a terrible dilemma. I am only hopelessly eager to drink all the readers’ tears that come my way. I want my readers to cry me a river so that I can revel in their sorrow and go sailing on it in a little canoe. I have big dreams. Also I need a cottage away from humans because humans are terrifying and how does one do conversation? It’s a mystery and avoiding populations over one person sounds good to me. I don’t know about dragons, but I am definitely partly made of crumbs.
I don’t drink coffee, though once I momentarily forgot my dislike of the beverage due some confusion involving the fact that one of my characters loves coffee and I forgot he wasn’t actually me. This sometimes happens.
I don’t find any time of day particularly suitable for writing. I can write whenever. Unless I have Writer’s Block (which is far to often) and then I can write never and I die.
It IS a horribly hopeless dilemma with the journals omg. Like my handwriting is NOT gorgeous or swirly calligraphy like, ya know, it should be.๐So therefore I can’t ever write in a journal. And I’m in full approval of your dreams to canoe down a river of your readers tears, like that’s perfect right there. Those are the kind of writer goals we should all be aiming for.
Humans, ugh. Why do we need them.
OMG I’m laughing at your coffee story.๐I have also done that once lol lol…like “was it me who believes this thing or my character….” At least no one can say we don’t get REALLY into our books?!
Itโs good to know that Iโm not the only one who doesnโt drink coffee. It just makes me squirrely and gives me a stomachache. Thatโs not helpful. Thereโs also the stereotype that writers are either really rich or really poor. Most of the writers I know are somewhere in between.
I’m actually finding so many of us non-coffee drinkers here omg?!? WE WILL RISE AN ARMY. AN UNCAFFEINATED ARMY. ๐
Ohh yes I agree about the money stereotype! Like either you’re JK Rowling or no one’s ever hard of you.๐I’d like to think I could exist in the middle someday?!
This was such a fun and cute post, Cait! I enjoyed getting to know our Queen. ๐ Personally, it’s been AGEEEEES since I wrote anything (I have this very strong urge to write some fanfiction now though; CURSE THIS POST FOR REVIVING DEAD WRITER AIMEE), but I have to agree that there is no need for coffee or coffee shops. I’m fine with lots of chocolate. xD BUT I LOVE WRITING IN PYJAMAS–or doing anything in pyjamas, really. Real Clothes make me iffy. xD
*this post whispers all the writing feels at you* ๐๐
Ahhh but I’m so glad you liked it!! And coffee shops are too distracting. I mean, if you go there = you eat cake and drink coffee, like who wants to work as well, that’s ridiculous.๐
Hi Cait.
Totally with you on most of these, kiddo.
-Coffee drinker here but not to excess, unless in a writing fit, and I’m not a coffee shop sort of person. {Socially awkward}
-I love the cottage on the unapproachable island! Whoever lives there, that person is the King of Cool.
-I write whimsical adventures, and rarely does anyone get killed or stabbed, but i still try to sneak in a tear-jerker moment in the books, but it is usually a sweet moment, and not because i killed a puppy or something.
Ugh coffee shops are WORST let’s just agree here. *hi fives* Plus they’re too loud?! And people are chinking their plates and talking and pfft how does anyone get anything done here, it’s INSANE. Ahem. But that island. That unapproachable island will be my dream.๐
1,Fits! Totally fits. I’ve always been a write all night kind of person.
2. Nope. I hate most coffee, and I find it difficult to write in public.
3. Yeah, no. I like to be well dressed, even if I never leave my room XD
4. NO WAY! Writing is my favourite thing to do! Obviously, there are times I get stuck, but I love the challenge.
5. … yes? I think.
6. Totally, yes. I have five or six notebooks and a drawing book that I will do nothing with because they’re so pretty!!
7. Nope! Love, love, LOVE editing! It’s a tie for the actual writing process for me.
8. ,… yes and no? If you’re my friend, I’ll let your bad grammar slide. If not, I’ll never speak to you again because your grammar drives me crazy (jk, I’m not that annoyed by it. But I do have a special button for writers with terrible grammar.)
9, YES! So much yes.
10, Very accurate. Only it’s a castle with some dragons and a nice forest.
AHH LOOK AT US GO. We match so many of these!!๐And *hi five* for another non-pyjama writer.๐ I don’t get the appeal tbh. But I guess I like to write in small explosions and then go do other stuff soooo, it’s ntice to be dressed.
Grammar though. I’M BAD AT GRAMMAR.๐I know it, mostly, but half the time…*shrieks into the void*
It is. That, and psychologically, wearing clothing that makes you feel good even at home raises your self esteem ๐ Pajamas don’t do that for me.
Eh, you’re coherent, you get a pass XD
I fit so many stereotypes yet defy so many ๐๐๐
AND YES STATIONARY IS NOT A PHASE
ALSO OMG I AM SO GLAD I FOUND ANOTHER PERSON WHOM COFFEE MAKES SLEEPY!!!
Like what is going on here??? Are our coffees contaminated so that aliens can control our awesome minds? Are we a different species altogether? Are we actually made of cake and crumbs? We shall never know… ๐ง
*hi fives* SAME THOUGH. And like let’s just admit that stationery is our one true love and naught will come between us.
But the coffee thing sucks omg. Like people say “I’m sleeping, I’ll have some coffee to wake me up”…and I’m over here knowing that’ll make me worse. WHY DON’T WE GET A WAKE-UP DRINK THIS ISN’T FAIR.
I NEED A WAKEUP DRINK SO BAD ๐ญ
Especially for readathons!!!
i need a 10 minute cartoon that is just six small dog sized dragons trying to move in a trench coat. and the one sticking out of the collar needs sunglasses and a hat. i need it. NOW.
Most crazily, ~Olive
SAME THOUGH. Someone make this for us.๐๐
Oh dear! It’s all true.
Here I am in the middle of the night (its after 4 am) , in my crumb-flecked PYJAMAS, in my office (ok, its my bed), relishing the velvet-blackness of the night, savouring the perfect silence that stretches out into infinity like…WAIT!…was that someone…breathing in the next room? Aargh.). And I do live in the middle of nowhere! Literally. We don’t even have neighbours. And what is it I am doing? I am writing. I mean actually WRITING. With a pen. On paper.
PS. I edited this and corrected the grammar four times before posting.
And I thought I was so unique. Sigh.
Omggg this is perfect.๐You are a writer-creature in its truest form here.๐ (Also on pen and paper?! That’s incredible! I admire your stamina haha.)
LOL yes, yes, YES!!! I fit so many of these as well. And when people ask why I stay at home so much, I have to ask: “Where else should I be?!” XD
That is the most PERFECT answer in the existence of ever.๐
Thanks!! ๐
Ughhh the dreaded middle ALWAYS brings tears. I try to avoid sleeping late but sometimes i just get so engrossed.
Also, you’re the first writer who i can finally agree with on COFFEE! I love the smell, don’t mind the taste but i don’t think it does anything for me either. I can sleep right away even after i’ve had the whole pot.
And i write most of my work in my jammies. So haha.
*hi fives for our coffee opinions* ๐I mean, I’m disappointed??? I want the caffeine boost haha. But it’s just like it does NOTHING for me except being a mildly okay drink. ๐
Hi there, Daisychains! ๐
Ah, I’m not a writer. I wish I could be but I have no impuls control and no ability to sit my behind down and acutally write. ๐
Still I feel like so of them apply to me too. ๐ I love notebooks. Notebooks are the best. Literally. There’s nothing greater than a pretty journal and I need them all even though I’m running out of space and my plants are judging me.
But I feel like everybody is silently judging other peoples grammar? Or is it just me? It’s something that sticks out and even though I might not say anything it might be something I’m stumbling over. Smack. Faceplant. Angry looks at that word I just fell over. Going on.
I’ve never tried doing anything in a Coffeeshop other than drinking coffee (or tea, mostly tea) and eat cake. Mostly because we don’t have coffeeshops here. It’s not a thing. I was just thinking. Maybe I should try the coffeeshop thing? Like, if I’m there with my laptop and people around me then I can’t just watch Youtube videos of black panthers swimming for the first time. If I’m taking up space and not eating enough cake and type important things than they might ask me to leave? Right?
Well, I cannot think of anything more to say. Have a great day/night/time! <3
Hugs, M
It does take practise to just sit down and write, for sure!! But it doesn’t have to be for HOURS, if that doesn’t suit you. ๐ Notebooks are so great though, right?! I mean who cares if we don’t use them, they’re pretty. *heart eyes at all the notebooks*
Ugh I hate grammar judgers. I have people go out of their way to snark at typos or something of mine and it pisses me off! There is NO need.
๐๐Good luck with your coffeeshop working haha. I would just end up eating cake and want to go home.๐
Wait did you say 2019 book? You have another one coming out next year? I must have missed that announcement, but that’s so exciting!
(also looking forward to you making me cry) ๐
Ahhh I hope I deliver with the tears.๐ And yes! I haven’t been able to talk about the 2019 one yettttt but it was just announced when I announced my first one (it was a 2-book deal). EXCITED. *flails*
Ha, this is hilarious, Cait! Was your “This is a phrase here which means” a Series of Unfortunate Events reference or was that just me? ALSO OMG YOUR EDITOR CRIED, THAT’S INCREDIBLE. I am so excited o read your books!!!
YES YES IT WAS A REFERENCE.๐ I can’t help myself, I love those books so much haha.
(And omg yes, aren’t we all scared about what powers I wield now?! *laughs evilly in the darkness*)
OH MY GOSH YES THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL!! Also the buying a younger age shirt and it still being too big is me all the time lol.
Ahhh we are the same, we small humans trying to find things that fit.๐๐ I’m glad you liked the post haha.
Ehhhhhmmmm…….. I don’t stay up late cuz I’m crazy and I don’t like staying up until 12AM. I’d prefer to get up early. In fact, this April I woke up t 4AM to write for Camp NaNo and I felt sooooo gooooood about it. Though, I still sleep eight hours…
Well, I used to drink a lot of coffee, but like , this year I just… stopped ?!?!? I mean I LOVE COFFEE IT’S MY LIFE but suddenly I just… don’t feel I need it anymore and I can’t even recognized myself !!!! Also, wow, coffee also makes me sleepy… I have no hecking clue why and how and what and where and how is it that I love it so much
I don’t wear my pyjamas to write… or sleep…. either…. Oh, I cry too. SO. MUCH. ALL THE. TIME. And wow, are we long lost twins?!?!? I do it internally too, cuz if I want to cry for real, my eyes will just say ‘no’ and I’ll just frown like “when did I became so insensible?!?!?”
Uff, yeah girl, I’m a dragon, I just haven’t found the right time to tell the truth to my mother…
AND STATIONERY IS LIFE, IT’S THE BEST, IT’S EVERYTHING
I’m editing for the first time ever my book and I’m excited cuz I have a lot of work to do but like I’m also terrified cuz I have a lot of work to do so… Help?
My mom comes to me to ask about grammar… And even though I am not that good at it, it’s still… true? I mean, my family comes to me as if I was the genius one here when the only thing I do is write ‘insert dramatic scene here’ and that’s it (!!)
Yes! I feel a little guilty cuz I know how it feels like to have my heart broken apart in a thousand pieces bc that book is evilness printed, but I also would really like somebody to tell me they cried while reading my book. I can’t imagine how does it feel for you. Must be so great! And AAAHHHHH NEW BOOK DETAILS!!! And Idky I find it so cute that your editor cried while reading it #Emotions
Oh, I want to live in the countryside, actually. I want like a quiet and cold place, someplace where it always rain I LOVE RAIN SO MUCH
Okay we need to have a talk to coffee about WHY it makes us sleepy when it’s supposed to do the opposite.๐ So unfair smh. ๐ And yes! I’d rather get up early too! although I tend to get up early and go for a run instead of write…which also makes me a terrible writer non-stereotype because aren’t writers supposed to hate exercise?! lol lol
My mum used to be a school teacher, so I always go to HER for grammar.๐And spelling…and to cry because how do you do words.
omg I live in a very small town in the countryside RIGHT NOW and all it does is rain and 0/10 do not recommend.๐
These are writer sterotypes as well as . . . homeschooled stereotypes? I relate to all of this and I have written . . . noTHING.But I do correct grammar though–it seemed to be the only thing I learned in elementary/middle school haha!
Omg they are kind of homeschool stereotypes too, aren’t they?! No WONDER so many homeschoolers end up as writer.๐๐