While spending time at a client's office last week, I commented that the big lunch I ate an hour earlier made me a little sleepy. One of the ladies offered to get some coffee, to which I replied, "Oh, no thank you. I don't drink coffee."
"That's the weirdest thing I've ever heard," she said with a smile. "You're a writer."
She's mostly right. Coffee IS insanely popular, and most writers (including me) are known for hanging out at coffee shops. Even many stock photos (like the one above) that refer to writing show a laptop next to a cup of coffee. But while there is some truth to this, not every writer fits that mold to a T.
Coffee-gate, as I playfully call it, is one of many misconceptions about writers. Here are 6 common misconceptions about writers:
We love coffee
Coffee shops, though loud and distracting at times, are one of my favorite places to write a blog, work on website content, or do some light editing. But not all writers hang out in coffee shops, and not all who do are caffeine addicts. I choose a smoothie or bottled water instead. I may be in the minority, but I am proof that we don't all like coffee.
Writers are born
I read this somewhere, and this is silly. My high school English teacher would flip if he knew I'm a writer and editor (the number of red ink pens he went through on my papers back then is the stuff of legends). I didn't always have a passion for writing; it developed over time. I've spent years practicing, learning from mistakes, and shadowing mentors.
We're all introverts
Most writers I know are pretty outgoing and rely on that trait to do their jobs. Being a journalist, copywriter, or even a content writer requires you to do non-introverted things like interviews, collaborating with others, sharing ideas, networking, etc. I believe being a social butterfly helped me grow Edit This®.
Everything we write is gold
Writing is a lot like the game of golf. It can be a lot of fun, but it can also be cruel. And just when you think you've figured it all out, you learn you're not as good as you think you are. Not everything we write is going to work the first time – or the fifth or sixth time. It can take countless rewrites and wrestling matches with writer's block. The finished product may be "gold," but you should see those rough drafts.
We love to read
My friend's wife set a goal for herself to read something like 10 books this summer – you know, just for fun. I think that is commendable, and I hope she did. But you won't catch me doing that. That's not to say I don't read; I read quite a lot, actually. Most of it, though, is while working on something for a client or catching up on research for a big project.
All writers are broke
Being a writer and editor doesn't get me the same paycheck as a doctor or lawyer, and I struggled for a long time making it a career. But I'm not broke. The same can be said for many other writers. There are job options for writers (newspapers, magazines, technical writing, book writing, ghostwriting, content writing, etc.), and I think how successful you are depends on your niche, who you write for, if you can write on different topics, and how hard you work.
Call Edit This® today!!!!
Edit This is the local writing and editing service every business owner needs. We not only write copy from scratch, but we can work with the content you have created to ensure it's clear and error-free. We save you a ton of headaches and get your message out quickly.
I like to say we handle anything involving the written word:
* Website content and copywriting
* Blogs
* Resumes
* Professional bios
* Press releases
* Newsletters
* Freelance writing
* Advertorials
* Customer letters (welcome letters, service change notices, etc.)
* Brochures & Directories
* Emails
* Public address announcements
* Mission statements
* GoFundMe page content
* Recommendation letters
* Speeches
* 30-second commercials for networking
* Book editing & ghostwriting
* General writing & editing consulting
Thanks for reading! *STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This, LLC, a writing and editing services company located in Denton, TX. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.