This is an article previously published in The Honest Perspective publication on Medium.
I’ve been writing and publishing for over ten years now, and during that time I’ve also worked with adult writers when I’ve run writing groups, workshops and projects. Added to that I’ve always found the indie writing community a particularly friendly and supportive community — so I feel like I’ve come across many different types of writers and I often pause to consider what type of writer I am. Like everything, although we all write, not all writers are the same. Far from it. Here is a little tongue-in-cheek run down of the ten different types of writer I’ve noticed over the years. Which one do you think is like you? Or can you think of any other types to add to the list?
- The Would-Be-If-I-Had-Time-Writer: I came across this one a lot when I first started getting my work out there. It usually comes from people who’ve never mentioned wanting to write before, but when you tell them that you do, they sigh longingly, roll their eyes in barely disguised envy and lament the fact that as much as they would love to write a book, they just don’t have the time. They are simply far too busy. Their life is without a doubt, a million times busier than yours. They can assert without any doubt that they will simply never ever have the time to write a book and they’ll look at you rather accusingly and say things like, ‘You’re so lucky you have the time for that! Wow, I wish I had the time to sit around writing all day.’
- The-Wanna-Be-Who-Won’t-Ever-Do-It-Writer:This one is similar to the one above but they don’t moan about not having enough time, not as much anyway, and they don’t passively-aggressively suggest you have way more time on your hands than them either… This writer wants to write; this writer has great ideas and natural talent. I came across this writer all the time when I ran my evening writing group. They were great at quick writing prompts in session but week after week, they’d come back saying they hadn’t written anything else. They wanted to, but something kept getting in the way. I assume a mix of things: lack of time, lack of support, lack of confidence for starters. Some of them get past this eventually and don’t look back but far too many never do and they never do get around to writing that thing in their head.
- The-Write-But-Never-Finish-Because-The First-Draft-Has-To-Be-Perfect-Writer: I know a few writers like this. They’ve got ideas, they can write, they can plot, they can commit to the process of putting pen to paper but they are too much of a perfectionist to ever get it finished. They’ll write a chapter and go back over it, again and again and years later they are still working on the same piece. Often these writers are committed planners too. They’ve more than likely either got a spreadsheet or a notice board covering in linked up post-it notes. They’ll have intricate character bios and tons of research on the go. No stone will be left unturned for this meticulous scribe. But they can’t let go of perfection and ultimately that gets in their way.
- The-Finish-But-Never-Publish-Because-They’re-Too-Scared-Of-Rejection-Writer: Ouch. This used to be me. I’ve written stories since I was a child and I wrote my first full length book at aged 12. I wrote obsessively all through my teens and my twenties but it wasn’t until I reached my mid-thirties that I felt brave enough to share my work. I feel for these writers, the sensitive types. They’ve probably been belittled or ridiculed by someone at some point. They compare themselves to others far too much. They’re scared to try in case they fail and have to deal with the humiliation of not ‘making it’, whatever that might mean.
- The-One-Idea-Only-Writer: There are two types of this kind of writer. The writer who has one amazing book idea once in their life and goes all out to write it, perfect it and publish it and then never does it again. They don’t really want to be a writer. They just had that one good idea they couldn’t let go. They probably rolled it around in their heads for years before they took the plunge and got it done. They’re happy with that, more than happy, but they never want to do it again. The other type is similar but they do want to do it again. That one idea leads them to another idea, and before they know it, they are off again. It’s still just the one idea at a time though, which is something I envy, to be honest.
- The-Takes-Years-And-Years-To-Write-Each-Book-Writer: This writer is similar to the perfectionist writer mentioned above. They are very meticulous, and very into the planning process. They may very well spend years researching their book before they ever start writing it. They probably go on road trips to all their locations and spend hours searching books and the internet for accurate research. There is nothing wrong with this at all — the finished product is usually worth the wait. These writers are problematic for impatient readers though as they often have to wait a very long time for the next book to land.
- The-Has-Millions-Of-Ideas-But-Never-Finish-Any-Writer: I think we’ve all been this writer at some point, right? Especially when we were younger? It’s the most common thing I notice in working with young writers and it seems the younger they are, the less likely they are to finish a story before a new idea hijacks them. There’s nothing wrong with this. I think its just a phase writers go through to figure out their own style and voice and eventually they find the story they’ll stick with, the one they’ll get addicted to.
- The-Writes-Only-Occasionally-Writer: In some ways you could narrow this list down to just two types of writer: the one who writes constantly, (see below) and the one who just writes every now and then when they feel like it. They still get the job done but they’ll have months off between projects and not write a single, solitary thing. I presume these writers find the act of writing a bit like self-imposed homework. They know they’ve got to put the work in to get a book written, but they’d like a break from it every now and then.
- The-Writes-Obsessively-And-Constantly-Writer: This writer has really got it bad; like a full on addiction. They don’t need to be advised to write every day because they’d write all day and night if they could. There is nothing this writer would rather do than write. They think about it all the time. They’re probably a mal-adaptive daydreamer. They’re in their own little world and always have been but don’t try to find them, they won’t like that. This writer suffers if they are kept away from their writing. They’re sad without it; they don’t feel like them. They have to write. Writing is everything. They look forward to their writing time and guard it ferociously. They have far too many ideas for books and not enough life to write them all, so they write, write, write. Publishing and marketing are on the agenda for this obsessive creature but they come second to the actually writing. They would still write even if no one else ever read it.
- The-Snobbish-Only-Traditional-Publishing-Counts-Writer: Often, these types started as the ‘suddenly had a good book idea’ type. They never considered writing before but they’ve got such a good idea, they’ve just got to try. They do everything right, this writer. They join a writing group, maybe even do a few courses. They follow all the advice and tips out there. They get it done. They put the work in. And for them, only a traditional publishing deal will do. Yes, yes, they’ve heard all about self-publishing but don’t mention it again, please. It’s not for them. They’re doing things properly, thanks very much. Self-publishing is for rejects only, right? They shudder at the thought.
Personally, I’m number 9 these days but I have been a few of the others in the past and I think most writers probably shift from one type to another in time.
What about you? Are you any of these types? Do you think there are more types to add to this list?
Please remember, it’s just a bit of fun and is not intended to cause any offence.
