15 Myths About Writing

Last Updated on February 18, 2024 by Nathaniel Tower

If you tell anyone you’re a writer, you are bound to get a lot of opinions.

Most of those opinions stink. Unfortunately, many of them can be harmful to aspiring writers.

Even though everyone reads (or at least has read at some point in their life), it often feels like people don’t have a lot of respect for writers. So they come up with all kinds of preconceived notions about what a writer is and what a writer’s life is like.

Oftentimes, both writers and nonwriters are judgmental about the profession, and this leads to a lot of myths about writing.  From myths about the qualities of successful writing to the writing process, these false notions are dangerous to all writers.

The most common myths about writing

Here are 15 common myths about writing that you shouldn’t put any stock into if you are a real writer.

Myth 1: You need to be a natural-born writer

Last time I checked, no one was born with a typewriter or a pen and paper in their hands. Writers aren’t born. Writers are made through practicing the craft of writing. Do some people seem to have an inherent gift for coming up with ideas and writing beautiful sentences? Sure, but that doesn’t mean that writing is just a natural thing. Everyone has the potential to be a better writer if they are willing to put in the work.

Myth 2: You need to have a unique voice

There are some writers who have a voice that is so unique to them that anyone who picks up any of their writing can instantly tell who they are. But most writing is not like this at all. Being a good writer does not require a unique voice that is free from influence of other writers. You don’t want to be a copycat, but you don’t have to try to create a writing style that has never been done before in order to be successful.

Myth 3: You need to write every day

This is probably the most common piece of writing advice you’ll get – write every day. This can be damn near impossible if you have a day job that isn’t writing. If you need to go a day or two without writing, you’ll survive. It’s a bit like riding a bike – you don’t forget how to write after a few days off. If you take too many days off, you’ll get a little rusty, but you’ll pick it back up in no time. Of course, there is a big difference between just riding a bike and taking hard turns on mountains and doing flips in the air. If you want to be a good writer, you have to practice the craft a lot.

A related myth is that you will get writer’s block if you don’t write every day. This simply isn’t true. Writer’s block isn’t caused by taking a break in your writing. In fact, taking a break can be a cure to writer’s block.

Myth 4: You can’t make money writing fiction

There is a pretty broad conception that most writers are poor. The truth is, most people who make writing their profession are actually doing pretty well for themselves. Writing fiction doesn’t have to mean you live a destitute life. There are many people who make decent money writing fiction. In fact, you can even make good money selling short stories. That said, if you want to get rich of your fiction writing, you are going to have to work incredibly hard and not only your writing but also your marketing and PR skills. Regardless of what type of writing you want to do, it’s certainly possible to make a healthy living as a writer.

Myth 5: You should always have a clear outline before you start writing

Some of the best writing sessions happen when you have no idea what you’re going to writer about before you sit down. Sure, sometimes it’s nice to start with a detailed outline that tells you everything to write, but that can also be pretty limiting. Don’t be afraid to write without an outline. Just let the words flow out and see where they take you!

Myth 6: You need to write about what you know

While I do believe it’s important to pick a writing niche if you want to be highly successful, there is no need to limit yourself to writing only about what you’ve experienced in the past. I used to be a high school teacher, but I rarely write about teaching. In fact, when I do write about teaching, it often comes across as forced and cliché. On the flipside, many non-teachers have written excellent fiction about teachers. You don’t have to write about what you know, but you do have to write about topics you are passionate about.

Myth 7: Your first draft should be perfect

This is a stupid myth. No one’s first draft is ever perfect. If your first draft is perfect, then the topic probably isn’t worth reading about. We all make mistakes, and we all improve upon our work when we put more thought into it.

Myth 8: You need to be a grammar whiz

Having an excellent command of grammar will certainly help you get to the finished product faster, but you don’t have to understand every grammar rule out there in order to be a good writer. You at least need to understand how to write coherent sentences, but no publisher is going to reject your work because you don’t understand when to use everyday vs every day.

Myth 9: You need to have a sophisticated vocabulary

A lot of people think the best writers use the biggest words. Unless you have a very pretentious audience, using the biggest words is often going to alienate your readers. It doesn’t require a really grandiose vocabulary to connect with your reader and write a great story. In fact, sometimes the simpler word choice will leave a bigger impact. I personally don’t like to read with a thesaurus next to me.

Myth 10: You need to be a literary snob

Most of the best writers also read a lot. But you don’t have to be a literary snob in order to be a successful writer. It’s okay if you don’t like Infinite Jest and prefer to snuggle up with something from the bestseller list. Read what you want to read. Read what makes you happy. Writer what makes you happy.

Myth 11: You need to be a tortured artist

Anyone can be a good writer regardless of their personal experiences. You don’t need a life full of tragedy and dark thoughts in order to create memorable works that resonate with readers of all walks of life. Some great writers have suffered a lot of hardships, but many other great writers have wonderful lives. You don’t have to go out and look for pain and suffering in order to be a writer.

Myth 12: You need to have a tragic ending

Just like you don’t need to be tragic in your own life, you don’t need to make your writing tragic in order for it to be memorable. The easiest way to end your story is by killing someone, but ending with death isn’t the only option. In fact, it’s often not the best option. Don’t try to force tragedy into your writing.

Myth 13: Your writing needs a great moral

Fiction can be used to explore complex ideas and moral dilemmas without having a clear moral message. In fact, some of the best fiction is ambiguous and leaves the reader to decide what they believe. You don’t want your writing to be pointless, but it doesn’t need to teach some deep lesson in order to be good writing.

Myth 14: You should never use adverbs in your writing

There’s a reason adverbs exist. They exist to modify verbs. Use them when you need to use them. Don’t believe anyone who tells you never to use adverbs.

Myth 15: Good writers always have great ideas

Coming up with good story ideas is really hard. Every writer struggles to come up with new ideas, just like every writer struggles with writer’s block. If you write long enough, you will encounter days where you find it impossible to write. Don’t worry about these moments. You’ll get through them.

Final thoughts on common writing myths

If we really wanted to, we could probably come up with at least a dozen more writing myths.

Writers and non-writers alike come up with all kinds of bullshit about what it means to be a writer and how you should go about your writing. If you want to be successful, it’s important not to get sucked into these myths. Instead, focus on writing the best you can.

What are some writing myths you’ve heard that didn’t make this list? Share your thoughts in the comments.