Glam Writers

We’ve finally come into our own! Yes, it’s true. Writing is now considered a glamorous occupation.

How do I know this? It seems that every time I turn around I see a movie that casts a writer as a main character. Over the last year I’ve seen so many movies and TV shows about writers (Marley and Me, The Story of Us, Raymond, nearly every Hallmark movie that I watch) . Apparently, we’re a hot ticket item now. Writing is definitely “in”!

It’s funny, though. So many of the writers on the silver screen are a bit different from most writers that I know. For one thing, they live in houses with hefty mortgages, a least a half a mill in most cases. I could understand if they were best-selling authors, but most are things like columnists, mediocre novelists, or magazine writers. Most of the writers that I know personally have to keep their day job, only one verifiably makes a six figure income. Few could afford more than a cheap motel room if they were only living on their writing income.

These glam writers also lead lives a wee bit different from mine. You might see them writing from time to time, but you don’t see them sitting at the computer until their eyes are crossed and brain fried, you know, like real writers do. And you don’t see the mounds of laundry and dishes piling up either!

But you know what? I don’t care if Hollywood takes a few exaggerated liberties with their writing characters. I’m just really excited that someone thinks that writing is a cool job! I hope that seeing these writers on the big screen will change the old nerdy writing stereotype into something a little more…well…glamorous, and that as a result, kids will see writing as a worthy endeavor again.

So, the next time someone asks what you do, strike a pose like you’re on the red carpet and in your most sophisticated voice say, “I’m a writer. Would you like my autograph?” 


(Image by Vintage Lulu )