“Unmasking the Hidden Truth: Are Writers More Tedious Than We Think?”
Have you ever stopped to wonder what the average person thinks about writers? It’s a curious question, especially for those of us who live and breathe storytelling, pouring our souls into every page we craft. As I sat in my favorite café, soaking in the atmosphere and sipping on a piping hot cup of coffee, I encountered a conversation that rattled my preconceived notions. Picture this: a knowledgeable yet unsuspecting server casually mentioned that, to her, authors weren’t as exciting as we might hope to believe—no glitz, no glamour, just regular folks pouring their thoughts onto paper. This remark stuck with me, much like the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the air, forcing me to reflect on the often-overlooked perception of writers. What does it mean when the very people we write for don’t see us as extraordinary? Join me as I explore this surprising insight and how it reshaped my understanding of the wordsmith life. LEARN MORE.
The shocking café comment I can’t un-hear
I’ve admired authors for a long time. When I meet some of my heroes at conferences and writing events, I feel the awe that a groupie likely feels for a rock band.
Imagine my surprise when I heard that to an ordinary, everyday person (i.e., not a writer), authors aren’t really all that exciting. In fact, according to her, they don’t have much personality at all.
What the common person thinks of writers
As a full-time freelance writer, I spend most of my days slaving away over a computer in my home office. So, one of my favorite things to do in my off hours is to get out, often to a café for lunch or dinner and some nice hot coffee. I have a couple of favorite locations I frequent, and the staff starts to recognize me after a while.
So when I walked into one of these locations a while back, it wasn’t a surprise to be greeted by a familiar server like I was an old pal. We’ll call her “Grace” for fun because she is graceful. A tiny person not only in stature but also in figure, she wears her long hair in a perfectly wound braid, has small, defined features, and looks like someone who does yoga every morning to perfect her elegant posture.
Grace doesn’t move from one table to the next — she floats, and she always has the best manners. She says things like, “And what looks good today?” when asking for your order, and “Great choice,” whatever you choose.
When she checks up on you later, she doesn’t ask how the meal was but says, “And are we loving dinner tonight?” or “Is that just tasting wonderful today?” If you need anything more, she’ll rush to get it and tell you things like, “Oh, absolutely, happy to do it.”
I’ve grown fond of Grace and have exchanged short conversations with her. I’ve learned that one of the young male waiters is her son, and that she actually doesn’t do yoga, but that she probably should, in her opinion, to enjoy the health benefits. I usually don’t get in too many questions, though, before she’s off and rushing to be sure all her tables are well taken care of.
So, it was a rare treat one day when she stopped long enough to ask me what I was working…
