Writers are a strange species. We spend hours obsessing over commas, pacing, and whether a character would realistically pick up a cup with their left hand or their right. So naturally… we develop a few pet peeves along the way.
One of my biggest writing peeves is when people say writing a book is “easy.” Anyone who has actually wrestled with a manuscript knows better. Writing is rewriting. Editing is rewriting again. Then rewriting the rewrite.
Another one? When someone says they want to write a book but refuses to read. That’s like wanting to be a musician without listening to music. Stories are built on the shoulders of other stories.
In the indie author world, a big peeve is the assumption that self-publishing is somehow “less than.” In reality, indie authors are often doing the work of an entire publishing house—writing, editing, designing, marketing, building websites, learning metadata, and managing distribution. It’s not a shortcut. It’s a full-stack creative business.
But for every peeve, there’s also a thank you.
Thank you to the readers who take a chance on indie authors.
Thank you to the writers who support each other instead of competing.
Thank you to the friends and fellow authors who share knowledge and encouragement along the way.
Writing can feel solitary, but the community around it makes the journey worthwhile.
So yes, we writers may have a few pet peeves… but we also have a lot to be grateful for.
What are your writer peeves?
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