By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
We writers can be a bit eccentric, sometimes bizarre, and those who love us may wonder if we need to be on meds. The truth is we’re creative people, and we look at life a little differently. You may be wondering if you’re a writer or suspect someone close to you has the ability to string words together into memorable passages.
“Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.”
– Orson Scott Card
Take a look at the following characteristics of a writer.
- Observers. Writers explore people, places, and things. We want to see how life is impacted by every object placed on and around our planet. We are filled with curiosity and love to explore the world.
- Daydream. Some of us have a difficult time paying attention because we are always in our creative writing mode. Our minds wander, so our responses to questions are often quirky. It’s not that we don’t care what is happening. The possibilities dancing in our mind is more powerful than reality.
- Emotional. We wear our emotions like a model wears a designer outfit. Many life experiences hit us in our tear ducts.
- We work strange hours. I’m an early morning riser. While the rest of the world is sleeping, I’m wired to write while the sun is thinking about what it wants to do for the day. Some writers treasure late nights. They don’t come alive until the sun goes down. We focus when our minds work best.
- Most writers are introverts. We’d rather listen and watch what is going on instead of being the center of attention. Time speeds past us, and we are oblivious to the rest of the world. Actually, we prefer it that way.
- Writers enjoy being alone. We’re comfortable in our own skin. Our minds are filled with nonfiction topics or characters from our stories, and we can choose with whom we want to spend our hours.
- Writers are passionate about what they’re creating. It’s personal. It’s who we are. The beauty of the written word gives us purpose. Yet sometimes we are melancholy.
- Most of us are rebellious. We manage life on our own time. Change is great when it’s our idea, but not when it comes from someone else.
- We are perpetual children. We scribble outside the lines, blend colors, and allow possibilities to embrace our minds and heart. Play is vital mental health, and truth matters instinctively.
- We imagine ourselves in other worlds, and we fit just fine.
There you have my 10 ways to identify a writer. Or perhaps you’re creative in other areas. What is an identifier for you?
DiAnn’s Library Corner
Library Tip: Create a display that shows your patrons favorite authors. Some may choose to become a fan too.
Middle-Grade Fantasy Just Released! – – Available Wherever Books Are Sold
Comments 20
DiAnn, these are good points and so true. Another litmus test is, what would you be doing if time and funds were unlimited? I often ask myself, especially about the funds, and the answer is always the same: I’d spend more money on writing, take more courses, and go to a ton more conferences.
Thanks, Kathy. You re spot-on with the financial statement. We have to provide for our needs, but we’d rather be writing.
Just finished my first book and getting ready to learn the self publishing world. Reading this was as if you used me for the 10 outlines; wow! encouraged me more then you know. Thanks!
Blessings…
Romans 15:13
Hi, Michael, congratulations on finishing your book! Yes, we are all alike. Isn’t the writing world wonderful?
DIAnn your post is comforting to someone who has always colored outside the lines and treated people I write about like part of the family. It’s a miracle when someone who doesn’t really know you, does in fact know you!
Thank you, Katherine. I think writers create their own lines and those are always expanding. Color on!
so so so much yes!!! 9 out of 10 – can ya guess which one is not like the others???
LOL – You are not introverted?
I love this, DiAnn. It describes me better than I can! My husband is one of the few people who know I’m not necessarily talking to myself when I’m alone in my office chatting away. I’m working things out with my characters. When I’m people watching, a different version of their story always weaves its way into my brain. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Joann. We are our characters! But if they are to be real to our readers, then we have to take time to talk to them. 🙂
Spot on, DiAnn! I’d add: “Writers see a story idea in everything.” At least that’s how I work as a writer.
Thanks, Alice. Life is one story after another, and we are the ones who present those experiences to the world.
Wow. It’s not just me? LOL. Another great post. Please excuse the cliche’ but you hit the nail on the head. May I repost this? My husband told me that I build walls but I think it’s just that I have a plot developing in my head or I hear a great phrase that would fit one of my characters. Or I see a great old house and imagine what it might have been like when it was first built by a young man who was planning for a wife and family. Sorry, I’m spinning a yarn.
Thanks, Kathy, and it would be an honor for you to repost this post. Just attribute to me. Don’t apologize for spinning a yarn, I was doing the same when reading your words about the old house!
I guess not having a pen in my pocket would make it questionable if I were to claim being a writer…
Warren – but you are a writer, and your mind is always whirling with a story. 🙂
One way I know I am a writer is I can see a “story” in every situation. 🙂
Hi Melissa, that is so true! They are everywhere!
DiAnn this is so true. I’ve always been a daydreamer living with imaginary people. I carried on lengthy conversations with them as a child. I hope that someone who has always felt that pull but didn’t know will read this and answer the call.
Thanks, Debbie, I hope so too. Seeing life through a writer’s lenses opens up a whole new world.