As you can tell, I was pretty irate while writing this post and I’m not even published yet. (I have to say “I’m not even published yet” because I’m trying to be positive after writing this excessively salty post). Putting my personal vendettas aside, here is a comprehensive list of eleven things you should never say to a writer:
Can you make me a character in your book? Um no. A few years ago, a girl at my school asked me if she could be a character in my book and I named my villain after her. Don’t ask a writer if you can be in her book unless you want to become the bad guy.
Am I a character in your book? If you’re asking me this, it probably means you annoy me. So, yes, you probably are.
Can I have a free copy? Writing is a job. You wouldn’t ask a doctor for a free exam, so don’t ask a writer for a free book.
How much money do writers make? You have to be joking.
I have this amazing idea for a book and I think you should write it. Trust me, I’ve got enough ideas bouncing around my head to last a lifetime.
[Related: Hate writing blurbs? I’ll do it for you. Check out my blurb writing service.]
Can I read your book? You can buy my book like the rest of the population. Until then, shoo.
I found a typo in your book. Great. Thanks for rubbing my errors in my face. As if my fear of publishing a subpar book and the corresponding anxiety weren’t enough.
No, like what do you actually do? Do you know how close I am to throwing an uncapped pen at your face right now?
I could be a writer too if I only had the time. Believe me, honey: we have no more time than you in the day. If you really want to write a book, stop talking to me and go write a book.
Your job is so easy. HA. Yeah, tell that to my sleep deprivation.
Why isn’t your book finished yet? You know, I’ve been asking myself the same question since I started the damn thing. Thanks for reminding me.
What else should you never say to a writer? Has anyone ever said these things to you?
This guest post was contributed by Annie Earnshaw. Annie is a student at Elon University, a writer, a blogger, and a self-proclaimed dog enthusiast. In addition to her chronic reading addiction, Annie is writing a young adult thriller novel about teenage spies (she’s certain that she was a spy in a former life). You can also follow Annie on Twitter.
A Writer's Path 
A friend saw paperback versions of the few books I’d written sitting on a shelf in my home, and asked if she could read one. She’s knows for years that I was writing, and never once bought a book. Yeah, no.
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Hahaha these are brilliant and SO relatable! I probably get the “when will it be finished” question the most, but only really from family 😁
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Slings and arrows… how very dare they…
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet and commented:
Have you heard someone ask you one of these questions?
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I don’t mind people telling me if they found a typo. My poetry collection is self-published and even after various proofs and beta-readers, a couple of errors still slipped through. I now have 40 ‘limited edition’ books where the word century appears instead of millennium in one poem, and the blurb has a couple of typos. These are fixed on the Amazon editions but I now need to work out how to shift the old ones.
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The only one that really bothers me on this entire list is when a person tells me they could write, too, if they only had the time. As though I don’t have a full-time job, while I try to eke out words on paper! I liken it to when people tell me they can live without caffeine. Really? When’s the last time you didn’t have any? Great list. I think I’m just older and have really thick skin now. 😀
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The one question that most of them have attempted to nag me with is, “How do you write.” And, it isn’t even the process of writing that they are interested in. They are either in awe of my writing or just simply flabbergasted with the possibility of either my daring to write or succeeding at it. With whatever little success I’ve tasted, in terms of the name I’ve been able to create for myself, writing continues to be one thing that people often like to admit doing with an underpinning emotion of grudge, excitement, or shame. 😀 Kudos to you for summing it all up in a list. I am a 100% sure that the list isn’t exhaustive, and we could continue to add more to the list until eternity (and still not be done with it).
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Reblogged this on Kim's Musings.
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My pet peeve is, “What have you written that I would know?”
And yeah, the one about people giving you ideas that YOU should write. They have no understanding that a writer must be passionate about the story and WANT to write it. Really, if your “crazy family” would make such a great book, please, by all means, YOU write it.
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I like these, except I do want to hear about typos (helpfully, not tauntingly), as I can fix those (the sooner the better), and what better proof that someone is thoroughly reading it? Thanks! Reblogged on GeezWriter.
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Reblogged this on GeezWriter Blog.
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