In third grade my teacher assigned the creation of an autobiographical booklet. We each met up with her to go over drafts, and she mentioned to me that I was the only one in the class that she didn’t need to tell to add more details. That day a seed was planted. “I want to be a writer,” it whispered. Since then, other dreams have come in and out of focus, but I knew that being a writer could be done “on the side” of other careers, so I always kept it on my list as a dream job. A year and seven months into my first completed major novel, and I'm more devoted than ever. If you’ve created characters, drawn out novel scenes, and found a passion for the written word you might relate to these writer habits.
1. When you have a breakthrough, and need to drop everything to plan it out before you forget.
You might look something like this
2. You’ve spent a lot of time doing research on one thing and then barely used it in your story.
But hey, maybe all my extensive early video-game console knowledge will come in handy someday.
3. You’ve found writing utensils in odd places.
I once found a pencil while adjusting my flannel into a blanket at a movie theater.
4. Speaking of writing utensils, one is usually within arm’s reach.
In my room there are about six places a pencil can be…unless I actually need one of course.
5. You get awesome ideas to put in a sequel…but want to figure everything out with you first book first.
Outline ideas though. Don’t be afraid to write scenes out of order, but if you must wait, jot things down so you’ll have it for later.
6. You get overwhelmed at libraries and bookstores picturing your own book sitting on a shelf.
Would it go under teens? How long until it’s taken off the new releases table? Could it make it to top picks or bestsellers? It’s overwhelming when the desire to see your see book is much higher than how far along you are.
7. When you switch career goals, you’re really just switching from one form of writer to another.
Writing novels, writing for TV, writing for websites, or being a journalist aren’t as different as I tend to think they are.
8. You stress out over decisions on the film based on your novel that doesn't exist yet.
How many scenes will they cut out? What if Tim Burton wants to direct it? Will I say yes, even though he’d have the business upper-hand change a lot? Could I be cast as a minor character? Will I have the power to stop white-washing the casting of my minority characters? Alright, but how will they CGI my favorite scene?
9. You’ve become overly cautious on saving your work from flash drives to self-addressed emails.
This is especially the case if you’ve ever lost some of your work in the past. It’s bound to happen at some point in a writer’s life. I’m lucky to have become cautious while only losing some fan fiction. It was a lot of it though, and it still hurts, but it could have been worse.
10. You’re often day dreaming about your characters’ lives, and how they came to be the way they are, whether you’ll use it in your story or not.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve learned a lot about my main character pretending to be her while walking to work one day.
11. You’ve had to hear adults tell you that you won’t “make it.”
Yeah, I know I’m not going to be a millionaire off of a book. I never said I was doing any of this for big bucks, but thanks for checking.
12. Your social media accounts are full of inspiring writing quotes, and you revisit them through your screenshots folder.
I have an entire Pinterest board for writing prompts, quotes, and resources. It’s definitely helpful to read a quote when creative work is in a lull.
13. You worry about writer’s block as if it’s a permanent disease.
And don’t get me started on the irrational fear of creativity being used up.
14. Your characters are like your children.
I mean you created them from scratch, and know them better than anyone, #parent.
15. You think that being a writer is the best possible title for yourself.
While it feels like you can’t use it unless your published, you can and definitely should use it now, you amazing writer, you.
