October 17, 2012 5:30 AM

If writing demanded total honesty, no one would ever write

In case you find yourself wondering why so many writers are something closely resembling borderline personalities, well…it’s because we lie to ourselves. Quite a lot, actually; probably because most of us are nowhere near as intelligent, capable, witty, literary, important, well-known, or relevant as we like to think we are. Except for me, of course.

Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be writers….

21 Lies Writers Tell Themselves

1. Underwear is definitely pants.
2. All you need to be a writer is talent.
3. My talent and its demands protect me from the responsibilities of normal people.
4. I’m almost done.
5. When I’m not engaged in the process of writing, I’m thinking about writing, therefore I am writing.
6. My writer’s block protects me from humiliating myself.
7. I don’t care that my frenemy from grad school got a million dollars for that literary crossover novel.
8. I don’t care that I got a million dollars for my literary crossover novel. I’m going to just keep it real. This doesn’t change anything for me. You know.
9. I don’t need to back up my computer.
10. Publishing this book will change my life.
11. I’m not going to get caught up in all that publicity stuff.
12. I’m only on social media because I have to be to promote X.
13. I’m only going to go on Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr for a few more minutes.
14. I need a MFA.
15. I don’t need a MFA (and no one else does either).
16. If you put something on the Internet, no one will read it.
17. If you put something on the Internet, everyone will read it.
18. Writing for free for that website will help me get my name out there.
19. I don’t need a contract for this.
20. I don’t need an agent for this.
21. My agent is ignoring me!

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on October 17, 2012 5:30 AM.

Romney/Ryan 2012: Because it's not a lie if you've convinced yourself that it's true was the previous entry in this blog.

Romney/Ryan 2012: Because a lie can be halfway around the world before the truth is out of bed is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 5.13-en