The Glamorous Lie of the Writing Life

If you tell people you’re a writer, they tend to react in one of two ways: either with wide-eyed admiration or a polite but barely concealed look of skepticism.

“Oh, wow! Like, books?”
Or…
“That’s…cool. But, like, what do you really do?”

Both reactions are valid because, let’s be honest, being a writer is kind of bullsh*t.

Before you get offended and hurl your ridiculously expensive notebook that makes you feel like a writer but doesn’t actually help you write at me, hear me out. The idea of being a writer is intoxicating—lounging in a cozy café, sipping artisanal coffee, effortlessly crafting a literary masterpiece.

The reality? It’s more like staring at a blinking cursor for three hours, rewriting the same sentence seventeen times, and calling it “progress.”

And yet, despite all the nonsense, we keep showing up. Why? Let’s break it down.

The Money Myth (LOL, What Money?)

There’s a reason “starving artist” is a cliché. Writing, unless you’re Stephen King or J.K. Rowling (or, fine, Colleen Hoover), doesn’t exactly make it rain.

Even if you do get a book deal, the advance is likely just enough to cover a few months of rent—if you’re lucky. Self-publishing? That’s great, but now you’re not just a writer, you’re also a marketer, graphic designer, social media manager, and professional beggar for Amazon reviews.

And let’s not even get started on freelance writing—where clients want 5,000 words for $50 and act like they’re doing you a favor.

So, why do we do this? Because we’re delusional. And maybe, just maybe, because we love it.

The Romanticized Struggle

Writers love to suffer. It’s part of the brand. If you’re not complaining about writer’s block, existential dread, or the soul-sucking process of querying agents, are you even a real writer?

Social media is full of tortured souls posting about their “impossibly difficult” craft while also reminding everyone that they’re somehow writing 10,000 words a day and closing six-figure deals. Meanwhile, the rest of us are crying into our laptops, Googling “how to finish a novel without ruining your life.”

Everyone Thinks They Can Do It

Another fun part of being a writer? Nobody respects the job.

If you’re a doctor, nobody assumes they can do surgery because they’ve watched Grey’s Anatomy. But writing? Oh, anyone can do that!

“Oh, I’ve always wanted to write a book! I just haven’t had the time.”
Cool. I’ve always wanted to be a brain surgeon. Just haven’t gotten around to med school yet.

Writing is a craft, and it takes years to get good at it. But because we all learned to write in elementary school, people assume it’s easy. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Rejection Becomes a Lifestyle

Want to build character? Become a writer. Nothing teaches you resilience like pouring your soul into a project only to be rejected dozens, if not hundreds, of times.

Agents will ghost you. Publishers will pass. Readers will leave 1-star reviews that say, “Meh.”

The best part? You have to smile through it. Because if you complain, you’re unprofessional and “not cut out for this.” So instead, you develop a thick skin, pretend it doesn’t hurt, and keep writing.

So, Why Do We Do It?

With all this nonsense, you’d think we’d quit. And yet, we don’t. Because despite the frustration, the rejections, the imposter syndrome, and the laughable paychecks, writing is magic.

It’s the rush of nailing the perfect sentence. The satisfaction of watching characters come alive on the page. The connection with readers who see themselves in your work.

Being a writer is sort of bullsh*t. But it’s also kind of the best thing in the world. And that’s why, no matter how hard it gets, we keep coming back.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a manuscript to avoid working on.