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5 Things You Shouldn't Say To Writers

I feel like there are certain jobs you can want to do and majors you can have that people will just flat out criticize you for. Right to your face, and in inconvenient places. Writing is one of those things.

1) Ohhh you should think about teaching too- This is how the conversation always goes.  "Ohhh you're in college what are you majoring in" "English" "Ohhh so you want to be a teacher" "No I want to be a writer." 1) There are LOTS of things you can do with an English degree... and I'm going to play the feminism card here and say that because I'm a woman people assume I want to teach when I say I'm an English Major. There is nothing wrong with teaching, but that isn't the only thing you can do with an English Degree. You can write, you can teach, you can be a lawyer, a lot of famous actors are english majors. Also the reason I'm posting about this is one specific instance where someone mentioned that I should try teaching more than once. "Are you thinking about teaching too. You should teach too." Basically means "You're not fucking good enough to write. Have a back up." It's something that isn't a dumb thing to do, but writers don't like to be forced into a different career path by someone that hardly knows them. ESPECIALLY since this person obviously doesn't know anything I've written and probably hasn't read a book in his life.

2) Ohhh so you're going to write the next *insert popular book series here*- Actually this is a little out of context. If you say it on its own, thats fine. It's a compliment, saying hey someday you will be as popular as so and so... but they usually say this in between telling you you should have a back up job. Just in case you aren't the next JK Rowling. This is also a very tricky thing to say. For example when Twilight was popular someone told me "Oh so you could write the next Twilight." I don't like Twilight at all. I think Stephanie Meyer is a terrible writer. I wasn't insulted because I knew the woman that told me this was just saying that because Twilight was popular at the time and she didn't read it either she just thought I could be equally successful... but if someone had said it on a date or something... that would be awkward.

3) "You should write about..."- I get this all the time and it isn't something I dislike really but its all the same. Once I say I want to write a tv show, someone always suggests writing about their occupations. Everything I've heard could work really well and would all be fantastic ideas... but then they aren't exactly my ideas are they. Plus I don't know all the intricacies of those little jobs. I feel like those people could write really funny stories, even if they just tried them out as a blog first. Next time I'll probably say "no you should write about this!"

4) Anyone can write- This is a true statement. I say it all the time. Anybody can write. And this has never actually happened, but if someone were to say that to someone that actually wanted to be a writer, that would be a flat out insult. "I want to be a writer" "Ohhh yeah! Anyone can write!" Anyone can be anything really if they try hard and set their mind to it, but that doesn't mean it sounds good to say it that way. Not that anyone ever has, but I'm sure it must have happened to someone.

5) Do you have a back up job- What the hell is that????? No I don't have a friggin back up job!!!! I guess if I can't be a writer for whatever reason I would be like a free lance interior decorator (with no degree in interior design...) or like a party planner or something... but why do I need a back up job???? You already think I've failed this. Chances are you haven't read anything I've ever written and you probably don't know me in the slightest... Just like really? It's #1 all over again. Don't insist I need a backup, I'm pretty damn good don't judge me!

Those are just tiny things I'm a little fed up with. I mean really if someone was like "I want to be a doctor" people would just assume that they were smart and they wouldn't tell them they need a back up job. Don't do that to writers, thats just mean. I like these little "5 things you shouldn't say" things and I'm sure I'll have others.


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