Ginger cat can relate so bad.
You’ve seen the memes online and browsed through the internet at your own leisure, but we’ve pulled together the ultimate list of 7 things every writer can relate to in the creative industry. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner, a pro, or somewhere in between. These facts are relatable to creative writers of all types and will maybe even make you crack a smile. And if you’re procrastinating right now, it’s a good excuse.
After all, how can you be a “real writer” if you can’t get these things every writer can relate to?
Exactly. You’re welcome.
Things every writer can relate to:
When a non-writer friend says “Oh, I’d love to write for a living! It’d be so fun.”:
Uh-huh. Yeah. Let’s take this outside in the parking lot.
Right. It doesn’t matter what level writer you are, or what kind of writing that you actually do. When someone says this to you, even if they’re your partner or a loved one that you care about deeply, you start seeing red. You feel us, right? Sure, when you’re a writer and passionate about what you do, there’s a certain adoration that comes from refining the craft and working on it every day or whenever you can. That being said, the actual task of creating the content isn’t that easy. There are days when you’re banging your head on the desk or sobbing – or both. There are days when you simply want to give it all up, stomp your way to the mall, and get yourself a “normal job”. It happens to even the most dedicated content writers, no matter what the content is. So, when someone who doesn’t understand the craft says it’d be “easy”? Ohhhhh boy.
When you finally get to write that epic scene that’s been playing in your head for years:
You’re finally the Ruler of the Universe! …even if it’s just in your head.
This applies mostly to novelists due to the idea that it can often take years for the creative process to line itself up and give you a chance to finally write The Scene. That being said, we’ve all got our own version of The Scene. It’s that one image or movie roll in our heads that have been there since the birth of this idea. It’s the small fragment that spurred the creative process to its start, and now you get to actually write it. It’s equal parts satisfying, like sinking into bed at the end of a long day and terrifying, like realizing you only have 2 minutes to get to work in the morning and you still can’t find clean underwear. But there’s beauty and a synchronicity to this achievement that is just so worth it.
When you stare off into space in search of a word or phrase:
Endure long, sleepless nights running through that mental dictionary.
Even the best writer will have one of those days when the word or phrase they want just disappears, and no amount of chasing it around will bring it back. This usually results in that awkward stare off into space, fingers twitching over the keyboard as you try words and phrases out loud to try and get it just right. Because you know you can’t keep going until you get that word or phrase down. You just can’t. It needs to be right. The creative process can be demanding that way.
That antsy feeling that you get when you can’t get any good writing time:
When you’re lowkey annoyed cause you wanna write but people are around and you need to appear normal.
Whether it’s your traditional 9-5 job, a family situation, an illness or something else, when you aren’t getting any writing in, there’s that feeling that will set in that’s like your skin is creeping with these little “writer cooties”. They demand for you to grab your computer, a pen, and paper or even condensation on the window and write. When the bug has bit you, it’s hard to relax or enjoy anything else until you scratched that itch to write. Maybe it takes an entire chapter or article to shake it off. Maybe it’s just a paragraph. It can vary depending on how long it’s been.
That delicious feeling when you’ve done a good job:
The I’ve-just-attained-God-level-after-writing-something-pretty-freakin’-amazing smirk.
Accomplishment, baby. It’s different for each writer, but there’s this tingle that you get when you finish a particularly strong section of writing. It’s that jolt of energy where you clap your hands in glee and sit there, frantically re-reading it to bring that elusive tingle back. There’s nothing that really matches that feeling and even though it happens sparingly, it’s enough to keep you writing on a hard or bad day when nothing is working or coming together. It’s that one of a kind sensation that tells us – for whatever reason – we did a good job on that one part. And, for a writer, that’s what it’s all about.
When you get onto the weird part of the internet for research:
Well, now that I’ve seen that, there’s no way of unseeing it, is there?
Ah, research, one of the top things every writer can relate to. Research is a pain if you hate it, especially when you’re writing, ‘cause there’s a lot of it. And it’s in great detail. If you’re looking for information on how an orthodontist would hold a conversation with a patient, let’s say, you need first-hand accounts, video, photo, zoomable pictures that let you observe body language. This is the same with, say, the way a murderer would tease their prey. You need the same kind of detail, and when you finally get it all done, you realize you’re on the weird part of the internet and you’re surrounded by creepy people who should be on an episode of Law & Order.
When a client rejects something due to a single typo, or because they “didn’t like it”.
Sure, I can take rejection. Lemme just wipe my tears with this wad of notepaper…
Another important factor in things every writer can relate to, this refers specifically to a content writer for the most part, and it’s one of the hardest parts of being a contractor. A client, unless they’re someone that you’ve had on long-term, doesn’t really know you or your quality of work. They’re taking a chance on you and they’re going to be judgemental. As a writer, that’s more of a “challenge accepted” kind of situation. But, let’s say this client rejects the entire order and/or wants a refund due to one typo. Yes, one. A single typo that would be easily fixed by you or the client him/herself, and they want to call it quits. Or, you get a client that will reject an article or another piece of writing because they “didn’t like it”. No tips on what didn’t work, no issues that should be fixed, nothing. When you’ve put time and effort into creating something unique to a client’s interest, it’s one of the worst feelings to get someone reject for reasons that are totally unreasonable. It’s rarely resolved without a fight, and it makes us feel horrible because this client doesn’t even want to acknowledge the work that was put into it on their behalf.
Both positive and negative, there’s a certain finesse to being a writer. Whether it’s the content, the creative process, the writing, or a combination of all three, it’s all enough to keep us moving toward even on the worst days when it all starts to be the daily grind. There’s a magic to writing that is universal amongst all genres and in all writers. It unites us, gifts us with these things every writer can relate with, and there’s really nothing quite like it in the world. If that isn’t magic, we don’t know what is.
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If you enjoyed that, you might like getting to know how powerful images can incite the storyteller in you, or taking a closer look at the pastel color trend. Or if those aren’t up your alley, take a blast into the past with a brief history of print design! Interested in the images used? Find your own on 123RF!