Being a writer isn’t all fun, games, and bottomless mimosas. Sure, it definitely has its perks. But have you ever heard of the 5 deadly sins of being a chick-lit author? Probably not. Well, that’s because I literally just made them up. However, that doesn’t mean they’re any less true.

Since I left my job earlier this year, I’ve been focusing on my career as a fierce authoress. Also, I’ve been sprinkling a few freelance projects in for flavour. After all, I’m someone who likes to have multiple projects on-the-go. But mostly I’ve been focusing on my début novel The Manhattan Mishap.

Spending so much time working towards my goals has made me realize that there are some quirks I’ve picked up along the way. Enter: the 5 deadly sins of being a chick-lit author. Of course, they’re not actually deadly. More like occasionally annoying traits.

The 5 Deadly Sins of Being a Chick-Lit Author

1. You start romanticizing the hell out of everything.

It’s true. Sometimes even just looking at the moon or the sunset makes me feel all romantic. I’ll never forget after a night out in Sydney, I made my fiancé get out of bed to look at the stars and the palm trees. They were just too damn beautiful. He groaned his way to the backyard, but was definitely happy he could feast his eyes on the sight.

READ MORE: 3 Fears I Have About Being a Self-Published Author

2. Everything scandalous wants to make its way into your next novel.

Whenever a friend tells me a really juicy story, I feel inspired. There have been many times where I’ve said, “Can I work that into my next book?” At this point, I’ll be writing novels for decades. The saucier the story, the better. I love writing stories that are drenched in drama.

3. You start feeling like your main character.

Melina Morry or Margot Moss? It’s no coincidence that I gave the main character of The Manhattan Mishap the same initials as me. Is she inspired by me? A little bit. After all, they do say “write what you know” and who do I know better than myself?

READ MORE: The 3 Biggest Inspirations Behind The Manhattan Mishap

4. The book you’re currently writing literally takes over your life.

Everything I do, everything I see, everywhere I go. I’m always thinking about my book. Will it sell well? Will people like it? Is it going to flop? Who is going to read it? It’s like I’m always playing a game of 21 questions with myself. (Cue: 50 Cent.)

5. You absolutely love what you do everyday.

Okay, so this isn’t technically a deadly sin of being a chick-lit author. But I’m sure the Debby Downers and grouches of the world might think so. I mean, waking up every morning and being completely obsessed with your job? Yeah, I’m lucky. Even though I can’t enjoy a morning cup of dark roast anymore (pregnancy) I still love getting to my computer and getting down to business.

There is a warning I should leave you with: I’m a chick-lit author. Anything you say or do around me has the potential to end up in a story. That’s just the way it is.

Buy your copy of The Manhattan Mishap here.

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