Writers vs. Non-Writers: The Struggles Only We Understand
Non-writers think writing is simple. “Just sit down and write,” they say. “It can’t be that hard,” they insist.
Meanwhile, we, the writers, are staring at a blank document, having an existential crisis, and researching the exact way a 17th-century nobleman would insult someone.
If you’ve ever tried to explain your writing struggles to a non-writer and been met with confused blinking, this post is for you.
What They Think vs. Writer’s Reality
Here’s where we get into what non-writers believe about the life of a writer, as compared with the actual reality of writing!
1. “Why don’t you just write?” vs. Staring at a blank page for three hours
Non-writers: “If you want to write a book, just sit down and do it!”
Writers: Stares at document. Rewrites first sentence 12 times. Deletes everything. Opens Twitter.
Look, we want to write. We try to write. But sometimes, our brain just refuses to cooperate. Or worse – we write one sentence and suddenly question every life choice that led us here.
2. “It must be so fun to write all day!” vs. The soul-crushing reality of editing
Non-writers: “Writing must be such a dream job! Just making up stories all day.”
Writers: “If I have to rewrite this chapter one more time, I’m setting my laptop on fire.”
Writing the first draft is like falling in love – exciting, chaotic, full of possibilities.
Editing is like being in a toxic relationship – painful, frustrating, and making you wonder if you were ever happy to begin with.
3. “How’s your book coming along?” vs. Internal screaming
Non-writers: “So when’s your book coming out?”
Writers: “Oh, you know… I’m just… letting it marinate.”
Translation: I haven’t touched it in three months, and now I’m afraid to open the document.
4. “Can I be a character in your book?” vs. The awkward smile
Non-writers: “You should totally put me in your book!”
Writers: “Haha… yeah, sure…” (Secretly thinking: You’re absolutely dying in chapter three.)
Little do they know, we’ve already based multiple villains on annoying coworkers and exes.
5. “I have a great idea for a book!” vs. Every writer ever
Non-writers: “You should write my idea—I don’t have time, but it would be a bestseller!”
Writers: “Oh? You have an idea? That’s cute.”
Ideas are the easy part. Sitting down and turning that idea into 80,000 words of coherent storytelling?
Yeah, that’s where things get complicated.
6. “Must be nice to have all that free time to write!” vs. Juggling 500 things at once
Non-writers: “I wish I had time to write!”
Writers: Writing at 2 AM. On their lunch break. In the car. On napkins. Everywhere, all the time.
Writers don’t find time – we steal it from sleep, responsibilities, and our already crumbling sanity.
7. “Why do you need to research that?” vs. The FBI watchlist
Non-writers: “Why are you looking up ‘how to commit the perfect crime’?”
Writers: “For my book! Obviously.”
We’ve all had that moment where we realize our search history could get us arrested.
8. “Why don’t you write something happy?” vs. Emotional devastation
Non-writers: “You always kill off characters. Can’t you write something nice?”
Writers: “No. Now excuse me while I make my protagonist suffer.”
Listen, pain builds character. If they’re not emotionally destroyed by the end, did I even do my job?
9. “It’s just a hobby, right?” vs. The existential crisis
Non-writers: “So, writing is just for fun, right?”
Writers: Laughs nervously. Cries internally. Drinks coffee aggressively.
We may not all be bestselling authors, but writing isn’t just a hobby. It’s an obsession, a compulsion, a life-consuming passion.
And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Welcome to the Chaos
If you’ve nodded along (or screamed internally) while reading this, congratulations – you’re one of us.
Writing isn’t just something we do; it’s who we are. And despite the struggles, the existential dread, and the occasional urge to throw our laptops out the window, we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Want to embrace the madness even more? Grab my free 10-page character development workbook and make your fictional people suffer properly.
