Here is a fun list of things you shouldn't say to a writer. If I left something out please comment below with your own...
Here's an idea, write this instead of the story you're writing now. This idea is so much better...
Quit now before you get over your head--too late, you're already there. Stop writing now.
You suck!
I just gave your computer a virus.
Since you're "not writing", can you do this for me?
I took your last pen.
I wish I could have time to write
What kind of hobby is writing?
When are you going to make your first million?
So, what's your real job?
We hear things like this all the time. Most of us are either tired of hearing some of these things or we just don't want to hear them at all. Especially if you're passing out viruses--we depend on our computers, phones, tablets, and other electronics to run smoothly and some of them already have glitches in them so keep your viruses to yourself. And never touch a writer's pen. You're wanting a fight on your hands if you touch them. Seriously. Go buy your own! And no, writing is not a hobby--it is our life. Sure, some do write on the side as a hobby but do not assume it's our hobby. That's an insult.
While some writers do make it big like Stephen King, JK Rowling, Dean Koontz, etc, most of us do not. We have to keep a day job (or night job) to pay the bills. We write because we enjoy it. We don't have time to write either, we make time. If you want to write, go write and let us do our work. Just because we're not physically writing, it doesn't mean we're not writing. Dreaming is a big part of writing too.
Writing is a real job. It may not feel like one to us but it is one. Never tell a writer it isn't. That's another fight-starter and you could lose a friend. It ain't worth it.
