Joanne Harris has excellent advice on writing.
How to be a Writer. 1. Stare out of window at rain. 2. Experience a certain lassitude. 3. Contemplate the infinite. 4. Settle for toast.
To help the world understand what it's like to be a writer, she started a hashtag on Twitter of ten things not to say to a writer.
And this morning's #TenTweets are; TEN THINGS NOT TO SAY TO A WRITER. Follow the hashtag to collect them all!
Joanne began the countdown here.
1. "So, what's your REAL job?" #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
And thought she was ending here.
10. "Your husband/parents must be very supportive." #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
But the Internet was just getting started.
How I'm feeling after reading @Joannechocolat's #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter:
Behold the treasure trove of Twitter reactions that emerged from #tenthingsnottosaytoawriter.
1.
#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter We don't pay, but it's a great opportunity for you to get your name out there!
2.
"Oh you're a writer? My aunt's friend's gardener's plumber is a writer. You should ask them for some advice." #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
3.
"I wish I had time to write." #tenthingsnottosaytoawriter
4.
#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter "It's pretty impressive that you spend so much time on something that has so little chance of success."
5.
#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter “Yeah, but what’s your JOB?"
6.
#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter Oh, you write? I've always wanted to be a writer. I'm too busy doing (insert "important" thing here), though.
7.
"So, kind of like Joan Didion?" #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
8.
"Hurry up and finish your book. It can't be that hard!" #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter #EspeciallyTHISWriter
9.
We only have decaf. #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
10.
"I really want to read your stuff*!" *repeats this for a decade every time we bump into each other. #tenthingsnottosaytoawriter
11.
"Any advice for getting into paid writing in [genre / market / audience that is nothing like mine]?" #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
12.
#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter "We don't have it in our budget to give [literally starving employee] a raise." *Arcade machine enters office*
13.
"Really? What name do you use?" #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
14.
So how's that novel coming on #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
15.
#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter "Your round."
16.
"This is OK for a first draft. This is a first draft, right?" #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
17.
When I retire I'm going to write a book, too. #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
18.
"We won't pay you, but we can include a link to your Twitter feed." #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
19.
I’ve got a great idea, I just need someone to write it. #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
20.
You should get [inaccessible super famous person] to blurb your book! #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
21.
"I would totally write a novel if I had as much free time as you do. I have so many ideas." #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
22.
I only read 19th century Russian literature because no truly revolutionary works of fiction are written anymore. #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
23.
#TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter "That sounds like so much fun! Wish I could just sit around and write all day."
24.
I thought you were dead. #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter
Read more on the #TenThingsNotToSayToAWriter hashtag. Follow Joanne Harris on Twitter here.