Stereotypes are fairly common in the world, but what about stereotypical thoughts about writer? Acknowledging writers in a positive manner is better than the negative stereotype because some believe that writers are mythical, magical, and damaged. However, they should view them as super-exceptional people because those specific stereotypes cause writers to lose confidence within their career, lead to manic-depressive illness, or even hinder their writing. I will discuss the bad ideas about writers and how people should change their perspective on them within the expansion of this blog because it can be life changing.
Better Ideas:
Throughout the reading of “Bad Ideas About Writing”, a book about writers being mythical, magical, and damaged stood out because writers are human beings and have feelings too. The stereotype can be effective not only to them, but to their supporters as well. “The idea that writing isn’t just easy, it’s magical work done by super-exceptional people” (Holbrook and Hundley, pg54). This quote is a preferable perspective because it gives artists credit for acknowledging how writing can be intricate at times, but they still overcome those obstacles. Not only that, but with them being super-exceptional people, their work is very outstanding or just not typical. Holbrook and Hundley did not want people to only think about just the writers, they want us to think about unseen artists like editors, agents, assistants, and even the spouses who handle much of the business behind the scenes. Believing that the specific people listed do not play a role in the business is not the best thought to think of.
The super-exceptional writers could also be seen as working stiffs because in the words of Holbrook and Hundley, “Some analyze common themes circulating about writers and then strategize ways to combat them” (pg58). Piirto also said, “Successful writers are resilient, they learn to take rejection and criticism as part of the life-long writing process”, which is why some writers are not phased by the stereotypes, but some are. For the ones who are, stereotypical thoughts interfere with their self-esteem and they do not want to create writings anymore which is why it is a bad idea to think these negative thoughts about writers. Rusch advises writers who wants to give up on pursuing their work because of negative thoughts about them to see their work as part of a career where they improve through continued effort, ongoing practice, and frequent submissions. It is also better to recognize the troubling day-to-day pace of writing because for some authors, to sit down and write, the words are slow to come and they are not always good which could be less motivational for them. According to Holbrook and Hundley, some writers are often advised to workshop their manuscripts-in-progress, but the workshops can be detrimental and that could affect their health whether it is mental, physical, or emotional.
Becker, G. writes about how people believe that genes are responsible for manic depressive illnesses when it comes to some writers health, but it is what the people are saying against them that is affecting them mentally. Speaking on writers in a negative manner could take a toll on them and affect their work, specifically women because they are already seen as the minority in the writing world. Jane Piirto speaks on how people believe that women can not cope with combining a career in writing with their nurturing role in the family. For some that is true, but not for all, because the award-winning women writers who have a child or children demonstrates that it can be done. For example, a successful novelist is Stephenie Meyer for her book series “Twilight”. She published the books throughout 2005-2008 while raising her 3 sons. She displayed that women can balance out writing and nurturing their family, and none of her children were at least 10 years old when the first book came out, so the fact that she was taking care of toddlers and profited $125 million USD says a lot about determination.
How would you feel if you were a hardworking writer and people criticize you and your work just because? Now that you know more about the stereotypes of writers that seems to have no concern publicly and the better ideas, has your perspective about them changed? To judge someone and not know them well is not good at all, a better idea is to never judge a book by its cover.
Want to learn more about writers?
References:
Teri H., Melanie H., “Writers Are Mythical, Magical, and Damaged,” Bad Ideas About Writing. (2017). Vol. 47 Issue 1, p53-59
Piirto, Jane. “Themes in the Lives of Successful Contemporary U.S. Women Creative Writers.” Roeper Review, vol. 21, no. 1, Sept. 1998, p. 60.
Becker, G. “Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament – Jamison,KR.” JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 51– 56.
Picture Sources:
“Author Stereotypes And Other Strangeness…” https://coffee2words.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/author-stereotypes-and-other-strangeness/ Accessed 30 Nov. 2019
“Bipolar disorder.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder Accessed 30 Nov. 2019