Most Writers Are Writers - Television Tropes & Idioms

Bad books on writing and thoughtless English professors solemnly tell beginners to write what you know, which explains why so many mediocre novels are about English professors contemplating adultery.

Joe Haldeman

In fiction, it is relatively common for the main character to be a writer or a reporter. This is in large part because many narrative works of art are initially driven by writers themselves (novelists, playwright, screenwriters, etc.)

Interestingly, such characters are only occasionally Author Avatars. As the page quote indicates, one of the main pieces of advice writers hear is "Write what you know", and since, as writers, they know writing, they have some idea how a writer would react in a given situation. It also helps get past the whole Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic problem, since a writer would be expected to know how to use big fancy words.

It may also be a Justified Trope in that many authors tend to work at their own pace, and therefore if they want to, can take time off at will. "Reporter" is a handy job for a protagonist to have if his creator wants to give him a good reason for snooping into dark dealings or conspiracies. "Columnist" is good for creating situations which bring the protagonist into contact with lots of people.

However, writers who don't write also don't get paid, which means this can become Artistic License if the writer never actually gets around to doing any writing, or if they spend too much time doing something other than writing. Appears commonly when the setting revolves around a Show Within A Show. May lead to a Writers Block Montage.