This post is all about the biggest myths about writers so you can stop believing the ones that might be holding you back and enjoy your writing journey with more confidence and joy.
Real writers are naturally talented. You need to come up with completely original ideas, otherwise you’re not a real writer. You have to suffer in order to create art. These are just some of the myths about writers floating around out there, and they might be stopping you from reaching your full creative potential.
Even believing these myths about writers a little bit can fill your writing journey with guilt, self-doubt, pressure, and stress, making writing feel far more difficult than it needs to be. But don’t worry, dear happy writer! Today, we’re going to bust these myths one by one so you can approach writing with more joy, confidence, excitement, and freedom.
Some of these myths are absolutely ridiculous. The last one is the one I find most ridiculous of all.
So let’s go through them together and see them for what they really are: myths. And as we go through them, let me know in the comments which myth you struggle with the most, or which one you find the funniest, most frustrating, or most annoying.
If you prefer the video version, check out the YouTube video below for the most common myths about writers.
Writer Myth #1: You’re only a writer if you’re published
No! Absolutely not!
Are you writing? Then you’re a writer! It’s as simple as that!
There’s really not that much more to say about this myth. If you’re writing, you’re a writer, even if you haven’t published anything yet. And don’t let anyone out there make you doubt that.
Writer Myth #2: Real writers are naturally talented
Are some writers naturally more talented than others? Sure. But every writer can grow and improve over time.
Writing is a skill that you develop over time through steady practice and learning. You do not have to be born a brilliant, incredibly talented writer. You can become one in time.
You just have to put in the work, to study the craft of writing, to read a lot, and most importantly, to keep writing. Keep writing, keep learning, and keep improving with every new draft and every new book you write.
That’s how you grow your talent, one written word after another. And the more you write, the more your writing improves, the more you develop your confidence as a writer, and the better your books will turn out.
Writer Myth #3: Successful writers write effortlessly
You might look at all those successful writers out there and think that writing must come so easily to them if they ended up becoming so successful. But you don’t become a successful writer overnight. You work for it. Every successful writer had to work very hard to get to where they are now.
Do you think they write one first draft and it magically comes out perfect and ready for publication? No! They have to rewrite and revise many drafts, just like you and me. Okay… maybe not quite as much as me, as a newbie writer… but still!
Hard work, struggle, and even self-doubt… they’re all part of the writing process. Even for successful authors. But the good news is… they did it. So we can do it, too. We can learn from them, follow in their footsteps, and model the habits and strategies that helped them succeed. They’re showing us the roadmap, so let’s use it to make our own writing journey easier.
RELATED POST: Inspiration From the Writing Habits of Famous Authors
Writer Myth #4: You need to be original all the time
A lot of new writers think that their ideas have to be completely original. They feel like they need to create something completely new, otherwise they are not truly creative. But with millions of books already out there, it’s really hard to come up with something completely new. Everything has already been done.
Every new book that comes out now is built on existing ideas. That’s actually why we can categorize them into certain genres, sub-genres, and tropes. But you know what hasn’t been done before? Your own version of the story.
The world is waiting for your story, written using your imagination, your experiences, your unique voice, and your own spin on those ideas and tropes. That’s what makes your story original. You’re writing it from your own perspective, so it will be different from anything else that’s out there, even if it builds on similar ideas.
So don’t worry so much about being completely original. And if you still worry, I highly recommend reading “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon. It really helps take away the fear of not creating something “completely original.”
Writer Myth #5: Writers must be disciplined all the time
If you can do it, that’s great. It certainly helps. Discipline is great for keeping you on track with your writing. It helps you get to the finish line faster and helps you stay better organized. So yes, there are lots of advantages to staying disciplined.
But life happens.
Various events, work and family commitments, and unexpected health issues can all interfere with your strict discipline. And when that happens, it’s important not to get discouraged and give up completely and say to yourself, “Well, I’m just not a disciplined person, so there’s no point in trying anymore.”
It’s best to stay flexible and work around the different challenges that come up. If something happens and you can’t write today, or even for a week, it’s okay.
Just come back to writing when the crisis is over. It’s far better to work with the time and energy you currently have and write when you can, rather than waiting for some perfect future moment when you’ll finally be able to follow a strict routine again.
Writer Myth #6: You need a perfect routine to be productive
This myth is closely connected to the previous one. We sometimes think we need an ideal writing routine in order to write and finish the book. But again, maybe your life at this moment isn’t organized in a way that allows you to follow a certain writing routine every single day.
So, just like with discipline, don’t postpone writing until you can keep a perfect writing routine every day.
Instead of stressing because you can’t have that ideal one-hour writing session today, with the candles glowing on your desk, the shooting music in the background, and the perfect creative flow state, and then ending up not writing anything at all, you’ll actually advance your book much faster if you just write 10 minutes on your phone.
Even if all you do is brainstorm ideas, that still counts as progress.
Writer Myth #7: Writers are introverts
While some writers are introverts, this is definitely not the case for every writer out there. Just like in any other profession, you can find introverted writers, extroverted writers, and writers who fall anywhere between the two extremes.
Some writers get their energy from talking to people, while others are completely depleted of energy when interacting with people and prefer the quietest place they can find to write. Wherever you find yourself on the introvert-extrovert scale, it’s fine.
The most important thing is that you understand what gives you energy and what drains it so you are able to write in the environment that works best for you.
Writer Myth #8: You need to suffer to create art
I really, really don’t like this one.
Artists are tormented souls, and they must suffer in order to create meaningful art. I used to hear this everywhere, in movies, in conversations about artists, and all over popular culture. But it is so far from reality.
Creativity doesn’t come from suffering. And also, you don’t suffer because you’re creative. In real life, it’s often the complete opposite. It’s in moments of joy, excitement, wonder, and peacefulness that we find our biggest inspiration.
I got the inspiration for my first book while I was traveling around Rapa Nui, a place I had dreamt of visiting since I was a child. Being there, exploring the island, seeing the moai, and learning about the Rapa Nui history was a dream come true. And it was all that excitement and the wonders of that island that inspired my story.
As for the writing process itself, I don’t know about you, but I write a lot more when I’m in a good mood. So no, suffering definitely does not help me create art.
Writing always feels easier when I’m happy, relaxed, and having fun. That’s why my channel is all about happy writers and cheering you on throughout your writing journey so you can make your writing dreams come true.
This post was all about the most common myths about writers. If you enjoyed it, you might also enjoy this other post:
The Most Common Writing Myths Holding Writers Back
Now it’s your turn. Which myth about writers do you think needs to disappear for good? Let me know in the comments.
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