“Wait, you’re a writer? Oh my gosh, I’ve been meaning to write a book too! It must be so relaxing to work on your own time.”

If I had a dollar for every time I heard this, I’d own a weekend cottage on Tybee Island by now. Look, I get it. There’s a certain mystique surrounding writers—especially those of us who are lucky (or irrational) enough to make it our full-time job. Maybe it’s the image of the tortured soul at a typewriter, maybe it’s all the rom-coms where the plucky journalist always gets the guy while dashing off Pulitzer-grade prose over coffee. Whatever the reason, let me tell you: most of what people think about being a writer is wildly off-base.

I’m pulling back the velvet curtain—not that it’s velvet, more like a curtain I got on sale at IKEA—and sharing what my job is really like. Spoiler alert: it’s not sipping champagne while dashing off perfect sentences in one go. (Though, if there’s champagne, I’m not saying no.)

Myth #1: Writing Is Just Sitting Around Waiting for “Inspiration”

Movies love to romanticize the idea of writers staring pensively out the window, perhaps on some moody autumn afternoon, until a bolt of inspiration strikes. Sounds dreamy, right? In reality, writing a 1,000-word article—or worse, a 90,000-word novel—takes discipline. And caffeine. So much caffeine. Most days, inspiration is a no-show, and the only bolt hitting me is the panic of a deadline closing in.

Writing is work. Fun work, sure! I’m lucky to create something out of the ether. But creativity isn’t a faucet you turn on; it’s more like coaxing your grumpy cat off a high shelf—it takes patience, trickery, and maybe treats.

The Reality Check: - I keep “office hours,” even when working from home, because otherwise, I’d procrastinate until it snowballed into 2 a.m. panic keyboard-mashing. - Deadlines don’t care about inspiration; neither do editors (sorry, boss). - Some of my best ideas happen while folding laundry. Maybe creativity likes the soothing tumble of a dryer—who knows?

Myth #2: Writing Is a Glamorous Career

I blame Instagram for this one. A snapshot of a café latte next to my laptop doesn’t show that I’ve rewritten the same paragraph 12 times or that I’m currently wearing pajama pants no one can see. People think writers’ lives are a constant blend of quaint bookstores, literary soirées, and mysterious wordsmith energy. OK, I do own some cute berets, but I bought them ironically.

The truth? Writers are professional overthinkers who are often just trying to pay the utility bill on time. Sure, writing has its perks. I get to work on fascinating projects and use words to connect with people—what’s cooler than that? But “glamorous” isn’t the first word I’d use to describe my day. Usually, I’m trying to lovingly wrangle my inner perfectionist into submission. (And by lovingly, I mean bribing her with snacks while muttering, “Done is better than perfect.”)

What’s Really Happening: - The only candlelit moments happening in my career are when I lose power during a storm. - I spend more time typing, deleting, and retyping than I’d ever admit to anyone who isn’t a fellow writer. - I once wrote an entire chapter while a neighbor’s dog barked relentlessly. Hemingway would weep.

Myth #3: Writers Have Boundless Confidence

If you believe that every writer is brimming with self-assurance, I’m laughing as I cry. It’s a special kind of mental gymnastics to flip-flop between “This is brilliant!” and “This is absolute garbage!” about the same piece of writing—all within 15 minutes. There’s a popular saying that writing is rewriting, but what nobody warns you about is the existential dread that comes standard with each round of edits.

For anyone who’s ever sent a risky text and waited for a reply, you’ll feel me on this: publishing something is like that x 1000. The stakes feel enormous, even though—let’s be honest—half the world is just scrolling for memes. But really, the validation loop for writers is hilariously one-sided. You create something vulnerable, and then… crickets, unless you count your mom’s obligatory “This is wonderful, sweetie!”

How I Cope: - Leaning on a support system of fellow creatives who understand the wild emotional rollercoaster. (Misery loves company. Writers love wine.) - Celebrating small wins—like typing “The End” or getting through a day without Googling, “Am I secretly terrible at this?” - Accepting that doubt is part of the process. You’re not a “bad writer”; you’re a “work-in-progress writer.”

Myth #4: Writing Is Only About Writing

Here’s the thing no one mentions when you first declare, “Hey, I’m going to be a writer”: you’ll spend just as much time not writing. Research, emails, networking, endless rounds of edits—it all goes into the job, and none of it involves lounging poetically in candlelight. Deciding to write full-time doesn’t mean I get to dodge life’s logistical currents; if anything, they’re amplified when you’re essentially your own boss.

I’ve had people assume I must spend eight hours a day just typing away. Oh—how I wish! But between pitching ideas, balancing mundane bookkeeping tasks, and marketing myself online, a huge chunk of my energy goes to the “business” side. This was a not-so-savory truth I learned back when I wrote Atlanta social coverage; the glamming up came second to the headaches of logistics and tight deadlines.

Truth Bombs: - The internet is my best friend and worst enemy. Researching is crucial, but the rabbit hole of “just a quick Google” can swallow entire afternoons. - Writing is a collaborative process. Editors and readers shape work all the time, which means my “babies” are often up for debate. You learn to let go.
- I still have to buy toothpaste and remember the Wi-Fi password like everyone else—though inspiration mysteriously strikes just when I’m out of both.

Conclusion: It’s Worth Every Coffee-Fueled Minute

Yes, being a writer is messy, overwhelming, and riddled with uncertainty. But it’s also a gift. When I send something out into the world—an article, a story, a novel—and hear that it made someone laugh, or cry, or feel a little less alone…well, I may not have that Tybee Island cottage yet, but it’s enough to feel downright rich.

Writing isn’t glamorous, easy, or full of unfettered inspiration. But it’s real. It’s fulfilling. And for me, it’s where I find my home. If I’ve learned one thing from this career, it’s that the myths are fun to believe—but the reality is where the magic really happens.

So, the next time you picture a writer, don’t imagine Hemingway in Paris or some chic recluse with perfect bangs. Think of me: sipping lukewarm coffee, battling Word Document glitches, and grinning like an idiot because—despite everything—I absolutely love this job.