I can't stand pretentious writers. I take my writing seriously and work hard at it, but I tune out when I hear too much about "craft" or "muse" or "I don't watch TV because I'm too busy writing." OK that last one I guess isn't necessarily pretentious but I personally can't identify with it.

While writing workshops can be a great benefit, you'll meet your share of pretentious and otherwise colorful writer characters. Lesley Hershman at Absolute Write goes over the eight different types. For instance:

6. The Self-Deprecator. At first you feel sorry for this shy creature, who begins each reading of her work with a nervous chuckle and a "This is really bad, but here goes…" By the fourth time this happens, it takes all the willpower you can muster not to scream out "just read the damn thing already!"

Of course if you're anything like me the self-deprecator is often one of the better writers in the group and secretly knows it, too.

Is Hershman forgetting anyone? Write me if there are any perennial bad writing pennies that turn up in your groups, workshops and classes that need to be added to the list. And of course none of us fit into any of those roles: we're #9, the talented, humble, flawed, gracious, giving workshop member.