Image of a Writer: Which One?

I think most folks have particular images of what the life of a writer is like. Something like this:

Or this:

Or maybe some version of this:

Or you go back far enough in time, and perhaps it's this:

All of these images show writers as serene, contemplative, focused, and, if you notice, somewhat removed from "the everyday world" outside of the world of words.

Very very few real-life writers that I know write in situations such as these, however. Most have day jobs they must attend to, family members they must interact with/take care of/organize and supervise, pets they must deal with, laundry they must do, meals they must prepare, etc., etc.,  in addition to writing (and sleeping and so on). Days can evolve into multitasking madness. This is not the usual image folks think of when they envision the writer's life. Some of the times, it feels more like this (with apologies to Picasso):

Anyhow, test this out yourself: Look around at how writers are visually portrayed on the internet or in books. Most show a writer at a table or a desk (usually a neat, uncluttered one), surrounded by the tools of the trade.

I think I'd like to see a photo of a writer, laptop perched atop a washing machine, surrounded by piles of laundry, and a couple of toddlers tugging for attention. I think that sort of image comes closer to portraying the reality of the writing life for most.

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

How nicely dressed, too, and beautifully groomed! Am I the only one whose writing wardrobe consists of clothes just one more wash away from the trash?

[Ann Parker]

Good point Camille! Sweats and t-shirt pretty much sums up my writerly garb.

[Susan Shea]

You speak truth, Ann!

[Michael A. Black]

As I sit here in my T-shirt and sweat pants writing, I couldn't agree more. If you can't be comfortable when you're writing, when can you be?