When people ask you your profession how do they react when you answer "Writer"?

1. 92

   Jodahposted 8 years ago

   When people ask you your profession how do they react when you answer "Writer"?
   
   Just wondering if the general public sees "writing" as a real profession. I have had mixed responses.

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   billybucposted 8 years ago

   The response is always the same...."what do you write?"

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes Bill, I get that too.

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      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yep. I usually get, "Oh! What do you write?"

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3. 91

   Larry Rankinposted 8 years ago

   In my experience, unless you're able to make a living wage at it, which to this point I haven't, they just role their eyes and say, "Whatever" under their breath.

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I know the feeling Larry.

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   Dana Tateposted 8 years ago

   Well, most people I know are impressed, until the find out I make very little money at it then they downplay it as a hobby.  One of the most hurtful is when I'm so excited because I won a award or received special recognition for one of my pieces and people will ask me " What did you get for it?"  I deflate like air seeping out of a balloon.

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes Dana, I actually get excited if someone seems to show real interest and actually asks more questions, so a conversation may ensue.

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   Phyllis Doyleposted 8 years ago

   I usually get a good response from people. I do not use the term "writer", I tell them I am an author and poet and they seem impressed, but most do not ask more questions.

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe I should try that Phyllis, but don't think it will make a lot of difference.

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Most are a bit impressed when I tell them I write short stories, poems and articles on history, cultures, spirituality and mythology. They ask for my website and I pass them a little card I made with all my sites. I rarely see them on my sites though

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   Ericdierkerposted 8 years ago

   Dang,
   My smarty pants 30 year old son just told me to grow up and get a real job. And he is a lead singer in a rock and roll band and freelance artist. So I will write an embarrassing article about him and post it on his band website. We may not get respect as writers but we can get even!

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Smart ass son, Eric I've heard, "we may not get rich, but we can get even"

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      MizBejabbersposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I love it, Eric!

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you John that is a very pleasant honor.

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 8 years ago

   People were more impressed when I told them I was a reporter.  They would invariably ask what paper I wrote for, then they weren't so impressed.
   
   Now, people seem surprised, I think because I admit it.  So many people write for therapy or just for fun, and would never admit it out loud.  I think it helps that I worked as a reporter for so many years that I came to see writing as what I did, not who I was.  Once you've written something for public consumption and put your name on it, not much unnerves you.
   
   I came to terms with a simple fact.  I'm a writer if I write - not just if I get paid.  When I do get paid, it's icing on the cake!

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer Kathleen, thanks

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   grand old ladyposted 8 years ago

   They ask what publications I write for and are usually impressed. In the Philippines writing gets respect -- if you're published. What bothers me a bit more is that people in the neighborhood recognize me even if they don,t know me personally, since I review restaurants in town. So they sometimes overdo the good service.  It sort of kills the incognito effect.

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Once you establish a name and are recognisable as a writer by the public things are different Mona. Maybe I should move to the Philippines

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   no bodyposted 8 years ago

   I always get disbelief. I get the sideways look like, "I never heard of anything you wrote." Then the second look and when they see I am serious they will ask what I write and they seem at that point interested as if, "If he can write, so can I." Then the next thing is when they hear I write on Hubpages they look like, "Darn, it means I actually have to 'write' to be on Hubpages." It always seems to follow this pattern.

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      Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Sounds familiar Robert, except the Hub Pages bit. If I mention Hub Pages..it's "What's that?"

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    MizBejabbersposted 8 years ago

    Actually, John, my career is an editor, and I just write on the side. When they ask what do you edit and I try to tell them bills, acts, and other laws of the legislature, their eyes start to glaze over into the second sentence. Then they remember that they have to meet their mother-in-law for dinner. No kiddin'. Just talking about it makes for some very good conversation in staff meetings.

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       Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks MizB, it makes you wonder why they even ask if they aren't interested in hearing the answer. I actually published my eBook so I could say I was a "published author" rather than just a writer..makes a slight difference.

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       MizBejabbersposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       When I was a reporter, they were more impressed because they heard me on the radio, but they didn't think of me as a writer although I wrote my own stories and sometimes those of others.

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    Ruth Angelposted 8 years ago

    Let me just say...people often underestimate writing as a profession. I can say this from experience, I never use to believe that writing could be so complicated. As a requirement to my degree plan, I recently took a professional writing class and I am not ashamed to say that it kicked my ass. SO many different writing styles and it was hard to become familiar with all of them. I essentially only use the ones that I need too.

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       Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for sharing that Ruth, I agree writing is a lot more complicated than some people seem to give it credit for.

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12. 61

    Lila Rainesposted 8 years ago

    They usually ask what I've written and then start hounding me about how much I make. If someone is a banker, you don't ask their salary, but for some reason people have a strange curiosity about the financial state of writers.
    
    Some think it's interesting or cool, while others don't see it as a "real" profession, but a hobby. Even my family seems to have an arbitrary line drawn between a job and a hobby. I don't see how it is a hobby if I am getting paychecks from it. 
    
    No matter what anyone else says, I don't want to die with stories still in me--so yes, I am a writer and will always be one.

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       Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Great answer Lila, I can relate to everything you say.

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    ketageposted 8 years ago

    Usually people ask me what the title of my book is, when I reply that I have not written a book, they look at me confused.
    Seems that most people assume when a person says they are a writer, they are authors of novels, anything less then an novel author is not a writer in their book, sigh.

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       Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, it seems that way sadly.

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