- ...bad things happen and you think, "It's okay because I can use this in a book!"
- ...you eavesdrop on your teen's conversations hoping for fodder for the next great YA.
- ...you invite 20 writers (plus kidlets) to your house for a party AND THEN you spend the whole week beforehand working on your WIP instead of cleaning the house. (Can't wait to meet all those who are coming!!!)
What makes you know you're a writer?
-Suzy
51 comments:
Ah, I have a growing list of these traits.
- You walk around the house muttering dialogue to yourself, and when someone asks you, "I'm sorry, what?" You say, "Oh, it's ok. I'm just talking to the voices in my head."
- You carry some form of paper and writing utensil with you at all times. If, by some terrible twist of fate, you find yourself unarmed, you write on napkins and discarded scraps of paper. Anything to get that idea down...
- You dream your storyline instead of having "normal person" dreams.
Those are my favorites. haha
When I listen to a particular song, and I find myself saying, "Ha! I can use that piece of lyric as a basis for a short story!"
And I agree with point #2 of the person above me. I usually bring a pad of paper with me to work, so that when I get some down time (or on a break) I can jot something down for my blog.
LOL! Love that list. Especially the house cleaning :)
You also know you are a writer when you burn dinner because you just had to slip away to write one more sentence and that was 30mins ago.
Ha! I was just thinking yesterday about what makes me a writer mama. Our brain waves are very close, Suzette, very close. That might not be a good thing for you, though: http://windedwords.blogspot.com/2010/01/you-might-be-writer-mama-if.html
And have a great party, messy house and all!
Heehee! These are all very true.
You know when you're a writer when...
...you find yourself interested in previously dull subjects just because they can feature in a wip.
(weapons of all sorts, the weather, astronomy to name but a few for me).
Oh that's too funny. I do all those things.
You know you're a YA writer when you're buying teen magazines and you don't have any teenage girls living with you. Not to mention, you haven't bought an adult magazine in years. (At least I haven't tried to style my hair like a teen and wear teen clothing.)
I knew I was a writer the day my husband stopped calling it a "hobby." ;)
yes yes and yes.. all those things. It is to be.
You know your a writer when your husband goes out of town for a week and you think "well at least I can get some serious writing done".
Or if you'll be sad when football season ends, not because you actually watch the games, you just write while he watches the games.
Very, very true! Nice list!
You know you're a writer when...
...every book you read is now considered research.
...you no longer have to wear red lipstick because your mouth is covered in red ink from an intense editing session.
Clean? What is that word? I've heard my friends use it, but I've always been too busy at the computer to figure out what it means. ;)
~ Wendy
You know your a writer when . . . you can't imagine not writing.
lol! That is awesome! Clean houses are overrated anyway, right? Okay, I'm a neat freak... so no, but still!
I would definitely have written in my wip instead of cleaned. I hope you guys plan a visit to Southern California someday because I would LOVE to meet you two... even if it's some far off day when you're doing a promo book tour there, maybe there might be time to squeeze in lunch with a writer pal :)
Oh Bethany, a little bird Tweeted me that you like Janette Rallison and I wanted to let you know that I'm LOVING How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend, so fun, innocent-yet-real, love it love it love it. I'd never read her before, so this was a nice win from Mary :)
Okay last thing, I left you two a little award today. I KNOW you're busy, and also that you don't like picking favorites to pass awards on to (I don't either, I was in a real quagmire over it), but I thought it would make you happy knowing you were nominated :)
1) I stare at people who are talking to me and wonder what novel their from and wonder why I don't recognize them.
2) Then, I start to edit their actions in my mind and often say, 'You can't do that, that's cliche.'
3) I speak to myself in third person.
4) I stare at people who act strange, pull out my note book and scribble furiously.
ann
You know you're a writer when the first question you ask anyone not old enough to drive is, "What are you reading lately?" followed by "Did you like it? Why?"
Michelle H. said... "...every book you read is now considered research."
I totally agree. When you start analyzed every line.- Why did they write that sentence like that.- Hah, that's a typo- This is a weird phrase- But you still manage to enjoy the book because the characters had heart.
Holy Freaking Cow!!! You guys are AWESOME! How cool is it to post something after midnight and wake up to sixteen comments? Holy wow, you've made my weekend!
You know you're a writer when you are so distracted by thoughts of you book, you put the milk in the pantry, the mayo in the freezer, and forget to get your kids something to drink with dinner.
You also know your a writer when, in spite of hundreds of rejections, you still want to write.
Bethany, we were commenting at the same time! *waves*
Ahhhh! Jackee!!! WE POSTED THE SAME THING! Same wavelength, indeed! (Must admit your list is much better than mine...)
Diana, are you going to SCBWI in LA? I am working on making that happen (with Elana) and would LOVE to see you! (And thanks oodles for the award, you sweet thing!)
Nisa, I wish you were coming! Why not leave your tropical retreat and come one over?!? Heck, why doesn't EVERYONE come over? Can't tell you how much fun we'd have...
Okay, these "You know you're a writer..." posts are hitting so close to home. I'm sitting here reading them, nodding my head, recalling times I've done the same thing.
Well, a (very) messy house beckons.
Ta ta!
Ha! Great post! And great follow-up responses!
You know you are a writer/blogger when your husband asks you what you did while the kids were at school and you have no idea where the six hours went.
You know you're a writer when...
~You think of your characters as actual people
~You always have pens and paper around so that you can note any brilliant ideas that suddenly come about.
~Life="I can use this"
funny! I can relate to all these. Good to know we're not alone.
I definitely have the scraps of paper with ideas & dialogue scribbled on it. ALL. OVER.
I also read my dialogue outloud & sound crazy.
Also dark circles under my eyes from late night writing inspirations.
So funny about the cleaning part... my house is a pigpen!! (Thanks for reminding me... :/ )
You know you're a writer when you start thinking about your WIP any time your husband starts talking about something boring... like sports... or work... :P
HA! That first one rings so true for me! I'm definitely a writer. : )
Have a great weekend!
The writer party sounds SO fun! I hope I meet lots of other writers someday so I can throw a writing party in a messy house :) You know you're a writer when you mentally add dialogue tags and action to scenes in your life while they're happening.
Almost all of the above!
Add to eavesdropping, you know you're a writer when you develop an entire story of a couple's meeting, marriage and life thereafter from seeing them across the restaurant. (And you REALLY know you're a writer when your companion believes the story!)
Love your list! It confirms my calling!
TOP 10 CLUES YOU MAY BE A WRITER:
1- You would rather talk to the voices in your head than the person sitting next to you.
2- You know the library's phone number but not your work #.
3- Some of the letters on your keyboard are completely worn off.
4- You have a favorite pen that no one else can touch
5- Books are your favorite scent
6- If you could meet anyone in the world, it would be your favorite author.
7- You eat macaroni and cheese for a week because you spent all your money at the bookstore.
8- Your/You're errors drive your crazy
9- You named your laptop
10. You would rather write than go out.
=]
You know you're a writer when... you can't complete the simplest of tasks without running to your notepad at least once to jot down ideas.
"...every book you read is now considered research." Good one, Michelle H. !!!
LOL! I'm sure it will be awesome. Can't wait!
Those are awesome. I hope your party is fun!
When I write down what my friends say an maybe use it for dialogue.
How about when your husband kisses you and you start narrating it in your head. That's pretty bad.
LOL, I love the first one. I put that one into practice all the time. Also, Dominique, I thought I was the only one who thought my characters were real. They're not?
When you listen to the news and thing "Hey, I can use this in my book!"
I laughed all the way through this. We writers are a bit nutty, but we're sure a lot of crazy fun :)
Lol! How true! I wrote a post about the very same thing today.
Great stuff here ladies.
You know you're a writer when upi have stacks of research and files of ideas stacked all over the family office and you panic anytime anyone else wants to use the office.
This just happened tonight. You know your a writer when...
My husband said I rolled my eyes at him. I replied, No, I didn't roll my eyes... I narrowed my eyes and my lips thinned--big difference!
So I come over to your blog after the party and see that I'm not a follower anymore. How that happened I really do not know. I curse blogger. Anyway, I'm following again. Sorry, Suzette! I really do follow too many blogs.
I have a horrific nightmare and instead of trying to forget about it, I embellish it.
Wow...this thread is so good it deserves a second helping.
BTW...Julie...You know you're a writer when you mentally add dialogue tags and action to scenes in your life while they're happening. I blew coffee on my monitor after reading that one.
...you start deconstructing Dawson's Creek.
Or when your resentments start riding high the moment someone else puts their pen to some paper.
When you see the puppet show "Rumplestilskin," and you wonder how you can put down on paper the tick-tocking clock and the ringing bell.
This resonates with me, especially the part about "bad things" and eavesdropping.
These comments are great. They buoy my spirits, and I can't thank you enough.
The party was great, I laughed so hard I cried. (We writers are fun folks!) I wish you all could have been here for it. And my wonderful friend Angie Lofthouse came over and helped me clean all afternoon, so the house ended up being presentable after all.
Everyone, have a fantastic week!
•...bad things happen and you think, "It's okay because I can use this in a book!" This is so completely true! :)
I love number one! And the bit about dreaming plotlines. Nice to know I'm not the only one...glad to be a new follower!
Post a Comment