Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill?

Dean Jackson · 03-02-2011, 10:51 PM

I find this quite interesting... In a lot of movies I've seen, writers are often portrayed in a similar manner.

I saw the movie with Will Ferrel called "Stranger Than Fiction" a few years ago. In that movie, there is a writer who is supposedly writing Will's characters destiny.

Of course, she fit the bill of the writer stereotype I am talking about.

Coffee Junkie. Chain Smoker. A Cynical Attitude. Loner. I don't remember if she was an alcoholic but it could definitely be possible.

Other stereotypes:

- Musician
- Into drugs
- An "odd" personality
- Hard headed

Post your experiences... what made you think writing was your "thing" and how many of the above stereotypes do you fit?

And were you always naturally talented at bull****ting

?

J/K but let's discuss experiences and brag about how cool and unique our lives are.

Dean

AdmiralGloom · 03-03-2011, 12:29 AM

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Joe Ditzel · 03-03-2011, 02:36 AM

So many writers in history fit the stereotype (alcoholic,etc) it has to have some merit. But these days there are so many different types of writers I don't think there is a consistent "type."

Either way, I just can't see Hemingway as a bad SEO writer:

It was a wonderful meal at Paris Fine Dining Restaurant after we got in; but when we had finished and there was no question of hunger any more, the feeling that had been like hunger when we were on the bridge was still there when we caught the bus home from the Paris Fine Dining Restaurant. It was there when we came in the room and after we had gone to bed and made love in the dark, it was there. When I woke with the windows open and the moonlight on the roofs of the tall houses, it was there. I put my face away from the moonlight into the shadow but I could not sleep and lay awake thinking about it and the Paris Fine Dining Restaurant. We had both wakened twice in the night and my wife slept sweetly now with the moonlight on her face. I had to try to think it out and I was too stupid. Life had seemed so simple that morning when I had wakened and found the false spring…But Paris was a very old city and we were young and nothing was simple there, not even Paris Fine Dining Restaurants, nor sudden money, nor the moonlight, nor right and wrong nor the breathing of someone who lay beside you in the moonlight”

Rezbi · 03-03-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Jackson

I find this quite interesting... In a lot of movies I've seen, writers are often portrayed in a similar manner.

I saw the movie with Will Ferrel called "Stranger Than Fiction" a few years ago. In that movie, there is a writer who is supposedly writing Will's characters destiny.

Of course, she fit the bill of the writer stereotype I am talking about.

Coffee Junkie. Chain Smoker. A Cynical Attitude. Loner. I don't remember if she was an alcoholic but it could definitely be possible.

Other stereotypes:

- Musician
- Into drugs
- An "odd" personality
- Hard headed

Post your experiences... what made you think writing was your "thing" and how many of the above stereotypes do you fit?

And were you always naturally talented at bull****ting

?

J/K but let's discuss experiences and brag about how cool and unique our lives are.

Dean

Loner - Yep.

An "odd" personality - Yep

Hard headed - Yep

And were you always naturally talented at bull****ting

? -
Absolutely. I was the little kid who got bullied, so I had to be able to BS my way out of things. That is, until I started on the weights and martial arts.

Scott Murdaugh · 03-03-2011, 09:37 AM

My friends always tell me it's pretty fitting I ended up as a writer... But stereotypical, I don't think so.

Coffee - I drink it once a week or so. Definitely not a "junkie", but I do like soda.

Chain Smoker - Yeah. Really want to quit. I know I will within the next year.

Loner - No. I'm always surrounding myself with people. The "loner" aspect of being a copywriter gets to me. So in my off time I'm usually out hanging with friends, family, etc.

Cynical - Quite the opposite actually. I'm usually interested in people from all walks of life, I don't look down on people, I generally have the sense that good things are going to happen in just about any personal or business endeavor that I take on.

Alcoholic - No. I do like to have drinks with friends and in social situations. I sometimes unwind at night with a couple of beers. But I don't drink daily. Don't drink during the day.

Musician - Love playing guitar. Play everyday.

Into drugs - No.

Odd personality - That's a tough one. I don't think so. I'm usually pretty outgoing, pretty likable in social situations, etc. I can be introverted sometimes, it just kind of depends. I may be "odd" in the sense that I'm pretty obsessive with work and some other quarks, but I'm not like an anti-social nerd living in an attic somewhere.

Hard headed - Only when I know I'm right

I've always been involved in sales, so I guess I've always been good at "bull****ting", but I don't think that's the right word for it. Maybe good with people and figuring out what motivates them...

"Bull****ting" kind of insinuates dishonesty or bending the truth. I'm a big believer in ethical marketing.

I've always loved writing. I wrote for my school paper. In High school I wanted to become a screenwriter...

Got into it (professionally) once I realized how powerful of a sales tool it really is.

-Scott

sylviad · 03-03-2011, 11:02 AM

What the heck. This might be fun.

Coffee Junkie: Is 2 large mugs a day considered a coffee junkie?

Chain Smoker: Nope

A Cynical Attitude: Quite the opposite. I'm too trusting and tend to believe what people tell me - on first blush, anyway. My attitude: Ok. I'll accept that. Prove me wrong.

Loner: Yep. I luv being alone with no one to bug me.

Musician: Yep. Learned keyboards about the time I focused on writing in the late 70s.

Into drugs: Nope. Never. Again, the exact opposite. If I really MUST take something, like to keep me alive, I will. Otherwise, no.

An "odd" personality: For sure. Even my mother often said, "I don't understand you." I think I make people uncomfortable and a little hesitant because my actions cannot be predicted. You just never know (and neither do I) what I'm going to blurt out, or what I might do in any given instance. If I feel the need to do or say something, I just do it, sometimes with negative consequences. Then, I spend a chunk of time trying to set it right because... deep inside, I'm fair and honest to a fault.

Hard headed: I stand by my beliefs, but even though it might not appear so sometimes, I am always ready to hear the other side and am open to compromise - or even switch positions if it is justified.

What made you think writing was your "thing": I was a born writer. Creating short stories as a kid came naturally to me. I always loved writing. It was a natural progression to becoming a professional writer.

Were you always naturally talented at bull****ting?: Definitely not. In fact, I'm too honest and forthright. I write factually. Trying to write BS is discomforting, which is why creative writing now is not as easy as it once was. I know it's not true, therefore, it just doesn't seem important.

Considering the above, I'd surmise that I am NOT entirely the stereotypical writer - well, not anymore. I used to smoke and drink.

Sylvia

Stephen Dean · 03-03-2011, 12:35 PM

It's funny that the two copywriters I've connected with the most, Ryan Healy and Ben Settle, turned out to have a lot in common with me.

We're all contrarian, libertarian copywriters with similar music tastes and a penchant for buying silver.

Copywriters seem to have their own mold.

For me... No smoking, no drugs.

Coffee junkee...? I drink liquids almost constantly. But I stick to one cup of caffeinated coffee or else my eyes turn in to a kaleidoscope.

I've had a guitar for 10 years and know about 10 chords. That's a slow but steady one chord a year!

I'm only a loner when I'm alone. I enjoy it, but have an active social life as well.

I'm not an alcoholic yet but I've been looking for a decanter to keep whiskey in... so time will tell.

Cheers!
Stephen

Nick Brighton · 03-03-2011, 02:02 PM

I'm hopelessly introverted.

I've been playing guitar since I was 15, which makes 15 years now.

I'm very artistic, creative and emotional.

Coffee hurts my brain. I'm a Tea drinker these days.

I love my own company, although it can get lonely sometimes.

I've done my stint of drug experimentation, but wouldn't touch that **** these days. It opened my mind, but closed other parts of it.

I always loved writing. I was always good at it since school, and through various jobs... back when I used to work for other people.

I think all writers have at least two or three personality traits in common... especially those who do it professionally.

Ken_Caudill · 03-03-2011, 04:05 PM

I quit drinking. I quit smoking. I quit doing drugs long ago when I realized they were killing me,

Life sucks.

Helen Green · 03-10-2011, 03:55 PM

Do I fit into the stereotypical boxes?

Smoker - yesm far too many!

Coffee - no, only 1 cup a day, but I drink tea by the gallon (well, I'm a Brit so it's expected!)

Drugs - no, not even in my younger days.

Artistic/emotional - yes definately, I'm passionate about my writing.

Loner - Yes, but do enjoy company now & then!

Alcohol - No - I never touch the stuff

Musician - No, I don't class myself as such, however years ago I was a woodwind technician - flutes & saxaphones!

Odd personality - Yes definately!

B********r - no, I'm too honest to be classed as such and I hate people who tell lies/B******t

Why a writer? Quite simply because I love writing.

I also think/believe that all writers have a few traits in common, we're 'special' people who are passionate about our work - or at least I'd like to think we all are, the genuine among us anyway.

methomas · 03-11-2011, 08:06 AM

Do I fit into a stereotypical box? Not on anything!

Smoker – Never, I can't stand the stink...

Coffee - 1 cup a day, and 1 cup tea a day.

Drugs - no, nothing stronger than a diet pill in my younger days when playing music all night.

Emotional - only shows in writing

Loner - Yes, I don't enjoy useless chatter.

Alcohol - No - I never touch the stuff

Musician - Yes, Professional bass player when young. I now play flat top guitar for my wife and chihuahua every day after breakfast.

Odd personality – Maybe, just a little

BS - No, and I stay away from liars and B.S.ers

Why write? That's simply, because I like to write.

I also put a lot of effort in helping others who try to help themselves. Not much patience with lazy people.

M E

The Niche Man · 03-11-2011, 08:56 AM

If You substitute the following I probably fit the mold of a writer.

Coffee Junkie No ... Oatmeal Cookie Junkie, Yes
Chain Smoker No ... Chain Reality TV Watcher, Yes
Cynical No ... Skeptical, Yes
Loner No ... Particular, Yes
Musician No ... Music Lover, Yes
Into Drugs No ... Into Adrenalin Rush Experiences, Yes
An Odd Personality No ... Weird Personality, Yes
Hard Headed No ... Rock Headed, Yes

Oh, and one more trait of a writer. Must Write or Die!

Daniel Harper · 03-11-2011, 12:06 PM

I write both content and sales copy. Other than a serious coffee addiction, I don't fit that stereotype.

My own experience in dealing with other writers leads me to the conclusion that super-artistic types, unless hugely talented, have a difficult time with the business side of writing.

Why?

Because they often get hung up on their own vision and can't adapt to what the client wants.

I used to argue this endlessly on a writer's forum. There were some struggling artist types there who I just couldn't convince that it was about their clients, not about them.

I don't look at writing as art. At least not the kind of writing that I do. I suppose you could call authors of great literature artists.

03-02-2011, 10:51 PM	#1
Dean Jackson Killer Copywriting War Room Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 767 Thanks: 298 Thanked 212 Times in 129 Posts	Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? I find this quite interesting... In a lot of movies I've seen, writers are often portrayed in a similar manner. I saw the movie with Will Ferrel called "Stranger Than Fiction" a few years ago. In that movie, there is a writer who is supposedly writing Will's characters destiny. Of course, she fit the bill of the writer stereotype I am talking about. Coffee Junkie. Chain Smoker. A Cynical Attitude. Loner. I don't remember if she was an alcoholic but it could definitely be possible. Other stereotypes: - Musician - Into drugs - An "odd" personality - Hard headed Post your experiences... what made you think writing was your "thing" and how many of the above stereotypes do you fit? And were you always naturally talented at bull****ting ? J/K but let's discuss experiences and brag about how cool and unique our lives are. Dean
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03-03-2011, 02:36 AM	#3
Joe Ditzel Bad Golfer War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 571 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 573 Thanked 334 Times in 203 Posts Social Networking	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? So many writers in history fit the stereotype (alcoholic,etc) it has to have some merit. But these days there are so many different types of writers I don't think there is a consistent "type." Either way, I just can't see Hemingway as a bad SEO writer: It was a wonderful meal at Paris Fine Dining Restaurant after we got in; but when we had finished and there was no question of hunger any more, the feeling that had been like hunger when we were on the bridge was still there when we caught the bus home from the Paris Fine Dining Restaurant. It was there when we came in the room and after we had gone to bed and made love in the dark, it was there. When I woke with the windows open and the moonlight on the roofs of the tall houses, it was there. I put my face away from the moonlight into the shadow but I could not sleep and lay awake thinking about it and the Paris Fine Dining Restaurant. We had both wakened twice in the night and my wife slept sweetly now with the moonlight on her face. I had to try to think it out and I was too stupid. Life had seemed so simple that morning when I had wakened and found the false spring…But Paris was a very old city and we were young and nothing was simple there, not even Paris Fine Dining Restaurants, nor sudden money, nor the moonlight, nor right and wrong nor the breathing of someone who lay beside you in the moonlight”

03-03-2011, 09:37 AM	#5
Scott Murdaugh ResultsCopywriting.com War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 916 Thanks: 296 Thanked 600 Times in 218 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? My friends always tell me it's pretty fitting I ended up as a writer... But stereotypical, I don't think so. Coffee - I drink it once a week or so. Definitely not a "junkie", but I do like soda. Chain Smoker - Yeah. Really want to quit. I know I will within the next year. Loner - No. I'm always surrounding myself with people. The "loner" aspect of being a copywriter gets to me. So in my off time I'm usually out hanging with friends, family, etc. Cynical - Quite the opposite actually. I'm usually interested in people from all walks of life, I don't look down on people, I generally have the sense that good things are going to happen in just about any personal or business endeavor that I take on. Alcoholic - No. I do like to have drinks with friends and in social situations. I sometimes unwind at night with a couple of beers. But I don't drink daily. Don't drink during the day. Musician - Love playing guitar. Play everyday. Into drugs - No. Odd personality - That's a tough one. I don't think so. I'm usually pretty outgoing, pretty likable in social situations, etc. I can be introverted sometimes, it just kind of depends. I may be "odd" in the sense that I'm pretty obsessive with work and some other quarks, but I'm not like an anti-social nerd living in an attic somewhere. Hard headed - Only when I know I'm right I've always been involved in sales, so I guess I've always been good at "bull**ting", but I don't think that's the right word for it. Maybe good with people and figuring out what motivates them... "Bull**ting" kind of insinuates dishonesty or bending the truth. I'm a big believer in ethical marketing. I've always loved writing. I wrote for my school paper. In High school I wanted to become a screenwriter... Got into it (professionally) once I realized how powerful of a sales tool it really is. -Scott
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03-03-2011, 11:02 AM	#6
sylviad Professional Writer War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,997 Thanks: 138 Thanked 291 Times in 201 Posts Social Networking	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? What the heck. This might be fun. Coffee Junkie: Is 2 large mugs a day considered a coffee junkie? Chain Smoker: Nope A Cynical Attitude: Quite the opposite. I'm too trusting and tend to believe what people tell me - on first blush, anyway. My attitude: Ok. I'll accept that. Prove me wrong. Loner: Yep. I luv being alone with no one to bug me. Musician: Yep. Learned keyboards about the time I focused on writing in the late 70s. Into drugs: Nope. Never. Again, the exact opposite. If I really MUST take something, like to keep me alive, I will. Otherwise, no. An "odd" personality: For sure. Even my mother often said, "I don't understand you." I think I make people uncomfortable and a little hesitant because my actions cannot be predicted. You just never know (and neither do I) what I'm going to blurt out, or what I might do in any given instance. If I feel the need to do or say something, I just do it, sometimes with negative consequences. Then, I spend a chunk of time trying to set it right because... deep inside, I'm fair and honest to a fault. Hard headed: I stand by my beliefs, but even though it might not appear so sometimes, I am always ready to hear the other side and am open to compromise - or even switch positions if it is justified. What made you think writing was your "thing": I was a born writer. Creating short stories as a kid came naturally to me. I always loved writing. It was a natural progression to becoming a professional writer. Were you always naturally talented at bull****ting?: Definitely not. In fact, I'm too honest and forthright. I write factually. Trying to write BS is discomforting, which is why creative writing now is not as easy as it once was. I know it's not true, therefore, it just doesn't seem important. Considering the above, I'd surmise that I am NOT entirely the stereotypical writer - well, not anymore. I used to smoke and drink. Sylvia
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03-03-2011, 12:35 PM	#7
Stephen Dean Master Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: WA , USA. Posts: 1,051 Thanks: 132 Thanked 194 Times in 100 Posts Social Networking	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? It's funny that the two copywriters I've connected with the most, Ryan Healy and Ben Settle, turned out to have a lot in common with me. We're all contrarian, libertarian copywriters with similar music tastes and a penchant for buying silver. Copywriters seem to have their own mold. For me... No smoking, no drugs. Coffee junkee...? I drink liquids almost constantly. But I stick to one cup of caffeinated coffee or else my eyes turn in to a kaleidoscope. I've had a guitar for 10 years and know about 10 chords. That's a slow but steady one chord a year! I'm only a loner when I'm alone. I enjoy it, but have an active social life as well. I'm not an alcoholic yet but I've been looking for a decanter to keep whiskey in... so time will tell. Cheers! Stephen
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03-03-2011, 02:02 PM	#8
Nick Brighton Money Grows On Trees... War Room Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: In the trenches... Posts: 2,375 Thanks: 554 Thanked 525 Times in 235 Posts Contact Info	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? I'm hopelessly introverted. I've been playing guitar since I was 15, which makes 15 years now. I'm very artistic, creative and emotional. Coffee hurts my brain. I'm a Tea drinker these days. I love my own company, although it can get lonely sometimes. I've done my stint of drug experimentation, but wouldn't touch that **** these days. It opened my mind, but closed other parts of it. I always loved writing. I was always good at it since school, and through various jobs... back when I used to work for other people. I think all writers have at least two or three personality traits in common... especially those who do it professionally.
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03-03-2011, 04:05 PM	#9
Ken_Caudill Here for the Beer War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 2,053 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 800 Thanked 1,280 Times in 795 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? I quit drinking. I quit smoking. I quit doing drugs long ago when I realized they were killing me, Life sucks.
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03-10-2011, 03:55 PM	#10
Helen Green Warrior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Born in UK, now an ex-pat living in France Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? Do I fit into the stereotypical boxes? Smoker - yesm far too many! Coffee - no, only 1 cup a day, but I drink tea by the gallon (well, I'm a Brit so it's expected!) Drugs - no, not even in my younger days. Artistic/emotional - yes definately, I'm passionate about my writing. Loner - Yes, but do enjoy company now & then! Alcohol - No - I never touch the stuff Musician - No, I don't class myself as such, however years ago I was a woodwind technician - flutes & saxaphones! Odd personality - Yes definately! B******r - no, I'm too honest to be classed as such and I hate people who tell lies/B****t Why a writer? Quite simply because I love writing. I also think/believe that all writers have a few traits in common, we're 'special' people who are passionate about our work - or at least I'd like to think we all are, the genuine among us anyway.

03-11-2011, 08:06 AM	#11
methomas Copywriter and Marketer War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: In a Wonderful World! Posts: 207 Thanks: 357 Thanked 50 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? Do I fit into a stereotypical box? Not on anything! Smoker – Never, I can't stand the stink... Coffee - 1 cup a day, and 1 cup tea a day. Drugs - no, nothing stronger than a diet pill in my younger days when playing music all night. Emotional - only shows in writing Loner - Yes, I don't enjoy useless chatter. Alcohol - No - I never touch the stuff Musician - Yes, Professional bass player when young. I now play flat top guitar for my wife and chihuahua every day after breakfast. Odd personality – Maybe, just a little BS - No, and I stay away from liars and B.S.ers Why write? That's simply, because I like to write. I also put a lot of effort in helping others who try to help themselves. Not much patience with lazy people. M E
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03-11-2011, 08:56 AM	#12
The Niche Man Niche Hunting Warrior Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Beach, California Posts: 1,190 Thanks: 184 Thanked 230 Times in 151 Posts	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? If You substitute the following I probably fit the mold of a writer. Coffee Junkie No ... Oatmeal Cookie Junkie, Yes Chain Smoker No ... Chain Reality TV Watcher, Yes Cynical No ... Skeptical, Yes Loner No ... Particular, Yes Musician No ... Music Lover, Yes Into Drugs No ... Into Adrenalin Rush Experiences, Yes An Odd Personality No ... Weird Personality, Yes Hard Headed No ... Rock Headed, Yes Oh, and one more trait of a writer. Must Write or Die!
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03-11-2011, 12:06 PM	#13
Daniel Harper HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 135 Thanks: 12 Thanked 25 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Writer Stereotypes... Do You Fit The Bill? I write both content and sales copy. Other than a serious coffee addiction, I don't fit that stereotype. My own experience in dealing with other writers leads me to the conclusion that super-artistic types, unless hugely talented, have a difficult time with the business side of writing. Why? Because they often get hung up on their own vision and can't adapt to what the client wants. I used to argue this endlessly on a writer's forum. There were some struggling artist types there who I just couldn't convince that it was about their clients, not about them. I don't look at writing as art. At least not the kind of writing that I do. I suppose you could call authors of great literature artists.