Getting Beyond the Mystique of “Being a Writer”

Writing is work, not a walk in the park.

(Source: Piqsels)

When I was about 11 years old, I told my mom I wanted to be a writer. She replied that you can’t make money doing that, which was her way of saying, “no.” Not the affirmation and support a kid would hope for. I knew that was false, writers do make money, but I wasn’t thinking about money. Even when I was a grade schooler, I wanted to express myself and create valuable ideas. That’s why I wanted to be a writer.

The Mystique

In defense of my mom, her intention was almost certainly to dissuade me from being beguiled by the mystique of “being a writer.” For quite some time, this mystique has cast writers as romantic, semi-mystical but tragic figures. Writers are either heroes or penniless fools, perhaps a little of both.

Classic examples of writer heroes are James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, John le Carré, and Ernest Hemingway. Each larger-than-life, far outside the comfortable norms of society. The negative stereotype of writers is that they stay up all night staring at blank sheets of paper, courting muses, drinking too much, and in other ways being antisocial weirdos.

Myths of heroes and paupers aside, the notions of writers as “other” persist. Think of the glitzy Barbara Cartland, bookish Kurt…