Someone hears you are a writer and they say “oh it must be great to sit down and write, so much fun.” Because that’s what we do; sit at our desks watching our story play out on the page while sunlight through lacy curtains casts delicate patterns of dappled light and shade…right? No. No, no, no.

Why not? A writer must simply sit with pen and paper and the words will flow seamlessly onto the page. How I wish. Or maybe I don’t. That actually sounds a little boring. How about the struggling penniless writer in a loft in Paris, trying to keep fingers warm by candlelight. Romantic? Mmmm, a little too Dickensian.

So what is the reality? If  writing is not like this, what is in the Writer’s Job Description?

• Reading copiously – yes this is in the job description. Read in your genre, read the classics, read not in your genre, read whatever interests you. Read.
• Research. Where is the story set? When? Is fashion a factor?
• Snatching moments to write while working the day job and juggling family commitments.
• Editing – because no one else does that for free.
• Editing again and again and again…
• Struggling with Imposter Syndrome. Ok this isn’t exclusive to writers but it is real.
• Fielding questions from friends and foe like, “Have you written anything I have read?”
• Keeping up with social media connections. Someone out there will want to read your words.
• Looking for those notes you scribbled at 3am and maybe that is what the cat is now throwing up under the bed.
• Making the time to write.
• Finding somewhere to write.
• Trying to keep those ideas in your head while negotiating peak hour traffic.
• Making yourself accept that though you haven’t written a word on your Work In Progress for days, you are a writer because of the above and more.
• Reciting this mantra daily –

I am a Writer

I am a Writer

I am a Writer

I could add more to the list, but if you can relate to a few of the points above, guess what? Yep. You are a writer.