Thursday 31 March 2011

The Ten Traits of a True Writer

Before I was published, my 'real' job was as a teacher. But my absolute passion was writing. I did it all the time, I thought about it all the time. I even ended up leaving my job for it, and scraping a living with a few part-time jobs so I could indulge my passion as much as possible. I was desperate to be published, and determined that it would happen, and in my heart, I knew that writing was the only thing I'd ever really wanted to do.

And yet I still couldn't call myself a writer.

Why? Because I didn't have a book deal. No one had yet come up to me and said 'I will pay you some money and I will turn your stories into things with covers that people can go into a shop to buy.' As soon as they did say this (obviously not using these exact words, as that would just have been silly) I was released. Finally, I could call myself a writer.

But should it really be like this? Should someone else offering us a contract to sign really be what it takes to define ourselves as writers? I don't think it should. And so, after about ten years of working full time as a writer (YAY! A fact I am still grateful for every day) and observing my own and my fellow writers' habits and psyches, I am today declaring a new way to tell if you really are a true writer. If you can tick off most of the points below, then forget the contract, the books, the sales...you're a writer!

1. You possess at least one decent pair of pyjamas and are happy to stay in them for half the day. When the postman knocks on the door with a parcel at midday, and you rush down the stairs, hair askew, PJs and slippers still on, you breathlessly announce, 'I haven't just got up. I've been working since 7, honest,' and even though he doesn't believe you, you don't mind. All you're bothered about is that you can sign his modern electronic thingy as quickly as possible and get back to work.

2. You are addicted to tea, and drink anywhere between five and ten cups a day. At the end of the day, when your partner comes home from work and can't find a cup anywhere, you quietly slip into your office and retrieve the seven cups that are scattered around your desk, abandoned because you were so involved in your work you forgot to take them back to the kitchen. (NB Can be substituted for coffee. The important thing is the 'lots of' and the leaving dirty mugs around the place.)

3. You have a thing about notebooks. Big, small, glittery fairies on the cover or deep-smelling black leather - it doesn't matter. What matters is that you have a whole shelf of them in your cupboard, most of which you will probably never use because you don't want to sully their beautiful smooth clean whiteness.

4. You have a borderline obsession with stationery. You cannot pass a Staples without swerving towards the door. And don't even get me started on Paperchase.

5. While we're on the subject...you don't like it when people get 'stationery' and 'stationary' mixed up. Or use apostrophe's when they shouldn't. (Yes, I did put that one in there on purpose. It was a joke. Did you spot it instantly? Good sign!) You have probably at some point in your life either asked to see the manager or defaced a restaurant's menu in the name of good grammar.

6. You like going on lots of holidays are willing to give up your free time for essential research. (Why do you think I was so happy when I realised my second book was set in the Bermuda Triangle...?)

7. You have a good internet connection. This is essential, so that as soon as you switch on your computer to get down to work, you can write lots of emails to your friends, upload your latest pics onto your facebook page, check your amazon sales rankings, write a new blog, read all your favourite blogs, and then tweet about how upset you are that you haven't got any work done yet.

8. You have a good memory. Your first book comes out. There are twenty glowing reviews on Amazon. And then...dun dun DUNNNNNNN.... (that was dramatic music, by the way) someone gives it TWO STARS!! You are spitting with rage. You want to reply. (Just type 'Jacqueline Howett' into Google if you are ever tempted to do this.) Eventually you calm down. But the two star review is the one you never forget.

9. You go round giving people advice like 'always carry a notebook with you', but because you fail to take your own sage advice, you have a drawer full of serviettes, menus and receipts, covered in illegible scrawl - or to put it differently 'the breakthrough idea that is going to propel your book to the top of New York Times bestseller list'. And yes, you will also wonder why you always get your best ideas when you're out having a cuppa with your mum.

10. And OK, I'll get serious then. The final point on your list. You have an over-riding passion for stories and characters and words. Your book is with you constantly. You could be out anywhere, doing anything, and someone will say something that you think sounds cool, and you will want to use it in your next book. You'll bore all of your friends as you ask them to help you come up with a title for a book that they haven't even read yet because you haven't let them (and it isn't actually finished). You can experience any situation - good or bad - and know that nothing is wasted if you're a writer. Everything is inspiration. And even in the quieter times, the 'winter' of your story (see previous blog on the Seasons of Writing!) you know that if you couldn't write, you'd only feel half alive.

30 comments:

Teri Terry said...

Oh dear! I'm supposed to be writing but I've been too busy making tea and reading blogs, and now I have a sudden urge to line up my beautiful supply of notebooks on the floor, take a photo, and post it on Facebook.
I must be a writer.

Liz said...

I must be a writer! I have a kazillion notebooks, most of them moleskines and I am obsessed with stationery. I cannot pass Paperchase and have got an enormous credit card debt because of buying more and more notebooks.

I drink far too much tea, both Rooibos and . I own far too many PJ's and my postie knows not to bother me and leaves my post in the recycling bin. Or he just takes it back to the depot where we pick it up on Saturdays.

I obsess about writing and think about it all the time and get shivers and palpatations when something goes "click" in my head.

I'm afraid, I may be a writer.

Elen C said...

My dog needs to be walked at 7.30 every morning. So I pull on clothes that look as though they should be pyjamas and wear them for most of the day. Does that count?

Admin said...

It's terrifying how this sounds exactly like me. I was guzzling tea while reading your post and nearly spit it on my keyboard when I got to that point! :D

Fantastic post, thank you!

Sara
http://smreine.com/

Rudi May Hart said...

Wow this so like me, I am kind o creeped out. I have so many note books my mum refused to buy me any more. I love stationery and am completely unorganised, so I always have at least one scrap piece of paper at hand. Plus I love my PJ's to bits.

Lady Jess said...

Oh, I must be a writer as well! I've got two drawers full of stationery and I write almost every day! Thanks for sharing, Liz!

Tatum Flynn said...

Love this list. I think I have about 15 pairs of pyjamas :D And if you substitute tea for Diet Coke, then definitely. Plus I just pulled out my wallet to pay for a drink in the pub and found a title written on a napkin...

Lorrie said...

Twelve leather journals,
Eleven packs of pencils,
Ten pads of paper,
Nine UPS deliveries,
Eight(teen) "special" notebooks,
Seven pairs of pajamas,
Six empty tea cups,
Five unabridged dictionaries,
Four yellow sticky pads,
Three thick thessaures,
Two plus twenty more notebooks,
and a secure internet connection!

I think you get my drift.

Anonymous said...

haha, so so true. I love the pictures of the notebooks :)

Lauren said...

Okay, you ,Liz, sound so much like me! I have two boxes full of notebooks and paper. I am constantly writing on my hands ideas. I think your list was a perfect way of describing an author! Thank you for reassuring me on my writing habits!

Walker said...

a mix of Black, Indian, and Who Knows? Since there was a War ongoing, a few officers carried a .38 Gun. Can you say Click, click? All the enclosures were heavily planted and this appeared to constrict size but at the same time so much improved appearance. On the contrary, even muffins just pop right out.

notes81492 said...

the thing on coffee and mugs, that's me :)

notes81492 said...

the thing on coffee and mugs, that's me :)

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