I think I’m somewhere between “I’m someone who writes” and “I’m a writer” and I’m trying to remind myself almost every day to tell myself that “I am a Writer!”. So thank you for the reminder! 😊
Thank you for this .. I started writing as a child in a tent under my willow tree and have kept on whether it’s in a journal dust for me or something to share with the world . I think we creatives often struggle with the professional association of writer .. and artist . If we make money ( sell books , paintings , have gallery shows , book launches and reviews ) then we earn those titles . Luckily - although it may be others perception
Making this substack a year ago has made me feel like a writer. Every week I put out one or two letters and that consistency is what helps me feel like a writing. I consider myself a language learner since my publication is about documenting my language learning journey but I'm wondering is I should call myself a writer too.
I felt confident in calling myself a writer when I enrolled myself in a 1-year writing program. It’s strange how I was waiting for day 1 of the program to feel like now I can claim that title. I’ve been writing for years but that validation came externally for me. I guess, that’s also because now I intend to do it full time and before, I wasn’t so sure how writing would remain a part of my life.
The fact that I see myself actively building a career of words makes me call myself a writer.
I love love love your point about being the verb and not the noun. Artists have similar hangups, our legitimacy lies we believe and have to overcome... The important thing is you are overcoming them to embrace the joy of your craft. 🙂
Thank you for this thoughtful and delicate letter on being a writer and calling ourselves one. I know writing is the thing that calls to me, and I know I need to practice using the word ‘writer’ more often so it doesn’t feel uncomfortable. I am a writer, because I commit to the art of playing with words as a way of making sense of the world around me. 🙏
Love your post, Charlene. I spent many years in publishing – typesetting, editing and proofing the long-crafted texts and words of others. Some of those words and books were quite brilliant, some less so (but perhaps at least attuned to commercial success). I worked closely with the people who chose and ordered those words, sometimes needing to recommend new choices and the re-ordering of those words. I think what I take away from all of those years is that I was always focused on helping to make the work as good as it could be and that the writers and my publisher were also invested in that same goal. Whilst I loved working with so many writers, my focus was always on the work. I think the verb (writing) was always more important than the noun (writer). Nouns are always prone to seem inadequate. For many years, I would place air quotes around the tag of 'photographer' when describing myself and my services to others. I am a father and part-provider for my family, but sometimes feel like I fail at both fathering and providing. Nouns feel like something we constantly have to question and live up to; and those nouns are meaningless without us 'doing'.
During those publishing years, we would also rarely refer to our 'writers', but to our 'authors' – a semantic quibble, perhaps, but a label that I've always liked better than the more generic 'writer'. Author implies ownership of a 'thing' and thus links a writer much more closely to their work and keeps them linked to it. It fuses that relationship between the noun and the verb and declares what they are by referring implicitly to the specific thing they have both created and crafted.
Looking forward to discovering more of your writing.
Yes, I’m a writer… have been since reporting days. Never questioned myself about it. It’s not a money making job for me…book authors and columnists etc use those earned titles. I write for myself, for leaving a piece of my heart long after I’m gone… Internet forever. In old days I saved files of clippings and essays typed or handwritten. It was an honor to be labeled writing coach when I taught college students, tutored young writers. Writing goes with reading…thanks for the suggested list! I believe we can always better ourselves from reading others…why I’m here! Happy new week to you! 😊❤️
Even though I am here putting words out into the world and I have been putting words out into the world for years now, it is still hard to claim the title writer. Something about it not being legitimate unless I’m being paid for it. Capitalism, I suppose.
Interestingly, many of the books I have been picking up lately have characters that are writers in them. I feel a sense of connection with the characters ☺️
Thank you, Charlene, for giving us permission to claim that title we've already earned. I think it's true that having a Substack space is what cemented it for me. Odd, right? Kind of like when I was 33 years old and holding my newborn daughter. I suddenly felt, actually truly felt like an ADULT! Writing with disciplne and an audience of readers makes me feel like a writer rather than a wanabe who posts poems to Facebook. Isn't it nuts? Thank you again! I am a writer!
I think I’m somewhere between “I’m someone who writes” and “I’m a writer” and I’m trying to remind myself almost every day to tell myself that “I am a Writer!”. So thank you for the reminder! 😊
I still hesitate...but after 40 years of journaling? I am a writer...
Thank you for this .. I started writing as a child in a tent under my willow tree and have kept on whether it’s in a journal dust for me or something to share with the world . I think we creatives often struggle with the professional association of writer .. and artist . If we make money ( sell books , paintings , have gallery shows , book launches and reviews ) then we earn those titles . Luckily - although it may be others perception
Making this substack a year ago has made me feel like a writer. Every week I put out one or two letters and that consistency is what helps me feel like a writing. I consider myself a language learner since my publication is about documenting my language learning journey but I'm wondering is I should call myself a writer too.
You gave me lots to think about. Thank you!
...I thought "someone who writes" was my ingenious demon-work-around technique!! I am also a writer :) Thank you for this lovely and inspiring post!
I felt confident in calling myself a writer when I enrolled myself in a 1-year writing program. It’s strange how I was waiting for day 1 of the program to feel like now I can claim that title. I’ve been writing for years but that validation came externally for me. I guess, that’s also because now I intend to do it full time and before, I wasn’t so sure how writing would remain a part of my life.
The fact that I see myself actively building a career of words makes me call myself a writer.
I love love love your point about being the verb and not the noun. Artists have similar hangups, our legitimacy lies we believe and have to overcome... The important thing is you are overcoming them to embrace the joy of your craft. 🙂
I call myself a bureaucrat and a creative person who loves to write. But a writer or an artist. That's a firm no.
Thank you for this thoughtful and delicate letter on being a writer and calling ourselves one. I know writing is the thing that calls to me, and I know I need to practice using the word ‘writer’ more often so it doesn’t feel uncomfortable. I am a writer, because I commit to the art of playing with words as a way of making sense of the world around me. 🙏
I've created stories almost all of my life. I've written down some of them. So, I don't have a problem calling myself a "writer."
Sharing my stories - that's a different matter. This is the hump I need to get over before I become a "Writer."
For me, the former is a state of being and creating, while the latter is more Official. Working on getting over ze hump!
Love your post, Charlene. I spent many years in publishing – typesetting, editing and proofing the long-crafted texts and words of others. Some of those words and books were quite brilliant, some less so (but perhaps at least attuned to commercial success). I worked closely with the people who chose and ordered those words, sometimes needing to recommend new choices and the re-ordering of those words. I think what I take away from all of those years is that I was always focused on helping to make the work as good as it could be and that the writers and my publisher were also invested in that same goal. Whilst I loved working with so many writers, my focus was always on the work. I think the verb (writing) was always more important than the noun (writer). Nouns are always prone to seem inadequate. For many years, I would place air quotes around the tag of 'photographer' when describing myself and my services to others. I am a father and part-provider for my family, but sometimes feel like I fail at both fathering and providing. Nouns feel like something we constantly have to question and live up to; and those nouns are meaningless without us 'doing'.
During those publishing years, we would also rarely refer to our 'writers', but to our 'authors' – a semantic quibble, perhaps, but a label that I've always liked better than the more generic 'writer'. Author implies ownership of a 'thing' and thus links a writer much more closely to their work and keeps them linked to it. It fuses that relationship between the noun and the verb and declares what they are by referring implicitly to the specific thing they have both created and crafted.
Looking forward to discovering more of your writing.
Yes, I’m a writer… have been since reporting days. Never questioned myself about it. It’s not a money making job for me…book authors and columnists etc use those earned titles. I write for myself, for leaving a piece of my heart long after I’m gone… Internet forever. In old days I saved files of clippings and essays typed or handwritten. It was an honor to be labeled writing coach when I taught college students, tutored young writers. Writing goes with reading…thanks for the suggested list! I believe we can always better ourselves from reading others…why I’m here! Happy new week to you! 😊❤️
The amount of time I have to write is so limited that I mostly have intense imposter syndrome! 😔
Even though I am here putting words out into the world and I have been putting words out into the world for years now, it is still hard to claim the title writer. Something about it not being legitimate unless I’m being paid for it. Capitalism, I suppose.
Interestingly, many of the books I have been picking up lately have characters that are writers in them. I feel a sense of connection with the characters ☺️
Thank you, Charlene, for giving us permission to claim that title we've already earned. I think it's true that having a Substack space is what cemented it for me. Odd, right? Kind of like when I was 33 years old and holding my newborn daughter. I suddenly felt, actually truly felt like an ADULT! Writing with disciplne and an audience of readers makes me feel like a writer rather than a wanabe who posts poems to Facebook. Isn't it nuts? Thank you again! I am a writer!
What great reminder to pass by categorization and judgement, when what we're doing is just what it is. Period. 🤗🙏🍀