My lovely colleague, Stephanie Romero, recently wrote an article called What Makes a Writer? I found this to be quite timely as I was pondering that myself. I found myself pondering the question because recently I was asked what I did for a living. While you can hardly call it a living, I found myself saying, “I’m a writer.” Upon hearing myself utter such words I cringed at the thought I would be asked how many books I have written or many awards I had won. Instead, my response was met with a pleasantly surprised, “Really, what do you write about?” At least there was a question I could answer with confidence. The confidence I felt did not prevent me from feeling like a liar to begin with. Why was it so hard to state that I am a writer? I do write, do I not?
My notion of a writer was George Bernard Shaw, Beatrix Potter, or even the guy who writes the sports page. After all, they have been published and earned an income from their talent. I have been published in print and I earn money from my writing. Yet, it was still hard for me to say aloud that I am a writer. The core issue is pride. Not the kind of pride that leads one to have an inflated view of oneself but the kind of pride the leads to insecurity. Could I call myself a writer if it has never been affirmed I have talent? Am I calling myself talented by stating I’m a writer? The seeds of insecurity are planted when we compare our journey to that of someone else’s. I could not possibly be talented enough to be called a writer since I was not given some grand opportunity another writer was given.
What is a writer? A writer is one who writes. A writer is a state of being not a job. If your passion is to write and practice your craft diligently then you are a writer. It is about heart not income. We are easily dissuaded by the success of others. We often believe we cannot compare in talent if an offer did not come to us. Do not compare your journey, opportunities, or struggles to that of another. If you believe yourself to be a writer then write and pursue your dream.
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