For so long I avoided using the title writer, in reference to myself.
I’m not good enough.
My blog is not big enough.
I haven’t written a book or anything (and then when I had…)
Well it’s self published, so can I really claim that title?
Slowly, I’ve become more comfortable with the term.
As my blog has grown and a second blog born. As books have sold and connections have been made.
I realized something.
Even as I achieve my dreams, I’m still scared of the term writer.
There are always new goals to be reached. New dreams to be sought after, but it never feels enough.
So I stopped worrying. I embraced the term.
Because I realized…
Being a writer is not about how many books I’ve sold or how popular my latest blog post has been.
It’s who I am. It’s what I do.
I am a writer. It’s my joy and passion, sometimes my pain.
I cannot stop it. The words bleed from my fingers when I try to take a rest.
So instead of counting numbers, arbitrarily placing the achievement of becoming a “writer” just out of reach, I learn to accept it. To smile at the word and not shrink from it.
Writer.
******
Linked up with Lisa Jo Baker’s 5 minute friday. 5 minutes of writing using a one-word prompt. No editing or back tracking, just free writing!
paige says
“So instead of counting numbers, arbitrarily placing the achievement of becoming a “writer” just out of reach, I learn to accept it. ”
Love that thought…
Traci says
I love this. Embrace it! I am trained as a musician with two degrees in music performance, but I’ve always done art “on the side.” Creating visual art has always been a huge part of my life, and it’s becoming more and more that way, but I didn’t go to an art institute for it, so I used to have a thing about calling myself “artist.” When I embraced it a couple of years ago, it felt RIGHT! :]
Ava Sophie says
I too can really relate to this! My mother has always been an visual artist, and I have done creative stuff, drawing and painting as long as I can remember. But in my mind it was always my mother who was the artist, not me. In High school and college I took creative, art subjects and all of my teachers told me I was an artist. Some begged me to go to art school, others stated it as a fact, others tried to encourage me to continue being educated within that subject, but I couldn’t embrace the artist- way. It was like I didn’t want it and it wasn’t for me. It was just a hobby, something I liked doing–definitely not a title. Lately I’ve embraced the term, without any more education on that subject, and I started working for exhibitions and have started selling my art! Now I feel like an artist, and embrace the term.
And isn’t it a relief when we do embrace it?!
Kay (A Ranch Mom) says
Writer.
Me too.
Stephanie Hanes says
YES, this: “Being a writer is not about how many books I’ve sold or how popular my latest blog post has been. It’s who I am. It’s what I do.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve doubted, but I can’t ignore the gift of words He’s given. It’s as much a part of me as breathing. So well said!
Laura Connell says
I related to this post really well. Especially “it’s who I am; it’s what I do.”
Ashley Greenwood says
Love! Yes, you are a writer. A great one too!
Ava Sophie says
This is much of the same feelings I wrote about in this week’s prompt(at https://avasophie.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/being-a-writer-at-heart/) and I think it is really normal to feel. But It’s like you wrote – we all just need to accept it! throw those doubting thoughts away– they don’t speak the truth ;)
And yes, you are a good writer, so please use the term about yourself with a good conscience.
Blessings