Thread: The writer stereotype

As we all know, every type of person has its stereotype - footballers, computer programmers/geeks, musicians, metalheads and, of course, writers.

As this is a writing forum, we'll focus on writers. When you think of a writer, what image do you conjure up in your head or what sort of person would you see in town and think "S/he's totally a writer, bro"?

Mine:

- Wears a fedora and/or felt/suede jacket
- Smokes
- Lives in coffee shops
- Drinks Latte or other coffee-based/flavoured drink with weird names
- Quiet or introverted
- Carries a satchel

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Disclaimer: This thread is in no way intended to upset or offend anyone, I'm merely bored and curious.

I usually think everything you said, but remove the fedora and replace it with a scarf.

- Wears a fedora and/or felt/suede jacket -- I wear a leather jacket.
- Smokes -- Never.
- Lives in coffee shops -- Can't stand coffee.
- Drinks Latte or other coffee-based/flavoured drink with weird names -- Never even tried one of those.
- Quiet or introverted -- Maybe when I'm asleep.
- Carries a satchel -- Only when I want to blow something up.

I guess I don't really think of any of those things when I think "writer." Although I see what you're getting at. There are some personality traits I associate with a lot of creative people in general -- such as being more free-spirited or not tied to convention, maybe more temperamental and emotional -- or "sensitive." Those are pretty obvious. Sometimes it's hard to tell if things people do are part of their real personalities, or they take them on as affectations -- to fit some role. I've known a lot of artists, and many of them do seem to feel the need to act the part, which is a little annoying. I don't do any of the things on your list -- I drink a lot of espresso -- so that's close. My wife bought me a pretty cool fedora -- but I haven't had the nerve to wear it yet. And I always imagine people will think I'm wearing it because I'm bald. Heh.

I don't really have a stereotype for a writer. I have tons for poets (wild hair, dark circles under there eyes, overly emotional, etc.) but writers to me are a far more broad bunch they seem to come from every corner of life because ... well I guess everyone has a story to tell.

The quiet/introverted thing is definite though. It's the only one that fits me....like an air tight glove lol jk to a degree

Like Flaubert said:

"Be orderly in your life, and ordinary like a bourgeois, in order to be violent and original in your works."

I think all writers are like this if a bit quieter.

I don't think I've ever looked at someone and thought, "He/she must be a writer." I agree with those who mentioned the introverted, quiet persona as about the only stereotype I think would fit. Mostly I think of writers coming from all over the place, looking varied in appearance. They are hidden in plain sight among us all.

For myself, I rarely leave the house and never visit coffee shops, don't smoke, would like to have a fedora but probably wouldn't have the guts to wear it out, have a calf-long black leather jacket, and drink only coffee with cream.

Stereotypes are useful things as writers, it lets us imply things bout someone without really having to label them. But as most people will point out, stereotypes are not absolutely correct all the time. The nice thing is, political correctness aside, if we don't use them in writing, we work so much harder. If you see someone wearing a hard hat, work boots, jeans and a t-shirt, odds are they work in construction more so than being a lawyer. It isn't that it has to be, but if we use those things in relation to a person, most people will by default think they are a construction worker.

Writers come in all forms, from strange, to normal looking...which should cover everyone's interpretation of the two. Being a developer I know the stereotype applied to my field, and I don't necessarily fit what you would expect. Unless you see my computer room...then there might be some stereotypical visuals in my environment.

- Carries a satchel -- Only when I want to blow something up.

A true rofl moment!

But seriously, a satchel? A pen and notebook, yes. A laptop perhaps, agreed. A satchel? Not one of those light-brown leather ones, the colour of mens' sandals? Oh, the very thought makes me go all shivery.

Bukowski. Think Bukowski and you have how I used to imagine writers to be. Ah the vividly uninformed picture that must paint of me!

The original post and its list of stereotypes reminds me of a guy I once knew in a workshop I was in about 20 years ago. He always wore tweed jackets and turtlenecks, carried at least one super-fancy pen, could quote various writers off the top of his head, and had lots of things to say about everyone else's stories (some of it good) but only put up one story himself and that only after it couldn't be avoided. Of course by that time we could all see right through him but we gave him the same kind of thoughtful critique everyone else got. Never saw him again after that...

I've been around too many different kinds of writers in my life (some successful, some VERY successful) to be able to paint them all with one big brush. The only thing they all have in common is that they write. That's pretty much it. That's the only real qualification you need to be in this job. Where you work, how you dress, what kind of controlled substance(s) you use...none of that matters.

I don't know any writers who fits the stereotype, but I'm sure many non-writing folks believe it.

When I first joined, someone (I won't mention who) decided for no reason at all that I was a male with a goatee who was likely sitting in a huge paneled den/home library, smoking a cigarette (or had the person said pipe?-I can't remember right now), sipping brandy, sporting a tweed jacket with suede elbow patches. I kid you not. I have no idea where any of that came from (unless it was because of my username and the hawk avatar I had at the time), but there you go. By the by, it wasn't meant to be insulting; the person honestly believed it.

Originally Posted by Hawke

When I first joined, someone (I won't mention who) decided for no reason at all that I was a male with a goatee who was likely sitting in a huge paneled den/home library

I for one am not convinced you are not this person. On the internet everyone's identity is suspect.

As for the cliches I meet, I do drink coffee. I even went so far as to buy a coffee machine.

I drink coffee too, but not with weird names.

As for me being this person. Sorry, but nope.

Originally Posted by Hawke

I don't know any writers who fits the stereotype, but I'm sure many non-writing folks believe it.

When I first joined, someone (I won't mention who) decided for no reason at all that I was a male with a goatee who was likely sitting in a huge paneled den/home library, smoking a cigarette (or had the person said pipe?-I can't remember right now), sipping brandy, sporting a tweed jacket with suede elbow patches. I kid you not. I have no idea where any of that came from (unless it was because of my username and the hawk avatar I had at the time), but there you go. By the by, it wasn't meant to be insulting; the person honestly believed it.

The sad thing is, I fit a couple of those things: goatee, small home library (I have a bookshelf packed tight, two of those plastic supermarket bags filled to the rim and a line of various books on my chest-of-draws and when I move out I plan to get a huge bookshelf for them all (I can't but buy any book in a charity shop that I like the look of or is by a favourite author of mine)) and sometimes smoke. Don't drink brandy though. Maybe we should swap positions/names.

Haha I love this thread because it's so true. That's the exact way I would portray a writer. Although it isn't always true, this actually seems to be an accurate stereotype in some instances.