I was thinking about the things that make a writer and I began to brainstorm this piece a few days ago. Then I recently had a conversation with a fellow writer who claims she isn’t a ‘real writer’ and gave me various reasons why she thought that. I decided I had to write this, even though it’s unconventional for me to do an actual blog post in my own voice, apart from updates and awards. It’s nothing profound, neither is it anything that probably hasn’t already been said in one format or another elsewhere. This is just for fun.
If you’re reading this, my friend who thinks she’s not a real writer, you can identify yourself in the comments, if you like. I didn’t want to be presumptuous and assume you’d like to be singled out.
What is a writer? We all have our own definitions, but, since I believe I’m a writer, and I can’t control my urge to write, I thought I’d create my own. Of course, I was careful to be sure I fit the description. If you say yes to all 5 of these points, then you are a writer. If you say no to any of them, you are still a writer because it meant enough for you to find out. If you’d like to share some other points, please comment below!
You know you’re a writer if:
1. You are driven to write with a force powerful enough that you are compelled to beat yourself up whenever you don’t write. If you go for a long period without writing, you always have it in your mind that you will get back to it one day soon. You’re certain of it.
2. When you are proud of something you wrote, you ache for it to be read, and you want as many people to read it as possible, and feedback from every one of them. If you answer no to this one, then you may be a writer that values your work like a family heirloom and you’re afraid other hands will tarnish it or break it. You may be unsure of your talents or your worth, and any criticism may devastate you.
3. Regarding publication:
A. For you, publication is not at all about status, but rather it’s an inner validation, a pride. Secretly many writers are unsure about calling themselves writers unless they have a way to prove it, as in publication. However in most cases, if you’re a writer, publication is like a trophy, the gold medal. Publication is the reward that acknowledges the value in your words, which you shaped so precisely. Yes, we are capable of inner reward, but the high of external validation feels so good.
B. If you are published, it’s a struggle not to let the status get to your head, because it’s often a long, grueling process to get where you are. People have such high esteem for published writers and your pride can only take so much elevation before your equilibrium of self-awareness is off, which is perfectly understandable. Yet, if you’re a writer, and you’re published, it’s not about status, fame, or money, it’s about the ability to make a living doing what you love.
4. You love being in a community of writers. You value their critiques. There is mutual support. You consider the community of writers to be a world of its own, and every genre is a different culture.
5. Your ass may be widening as I write this. If not, you work out daily in order to avoid that.
Here’s an extra one: You cringe when you make typos in a chatroom, and wish you could go back to edit conversations.
Ok, well I think this was my first traditional blog post, maybe. Hope you enjoyed it! *goes back to hide behind Grimm*
You know you are a writer when holding a thought in your mind by not writing it is same as holding your pee :P
Hahaha! Yes!
Consider this one….You know you are a writer when the number of words u write in a day exceeds the number of words you speak! :D
You’re good! Keep ‘em coming lol
WOW, I LOVE THE ENOLOGY, THE DISCRIPTION IS PERFECT (:
Thank you! I’m sure I missed a lot though lol
Great thoughts here Sage, thanks for writing it :)
Thank you, and you’re welcome :)
1. You are driven to write with a force powerful enough that you are compelled to beat yourself up whenever you don’t write. CHECK
2. When you are proud of something you wrote, you ache for it to be read, and you want as many people to read it as possible. CHECK
3. For you, publication is not at all about status, but rather it’s an inner validation, a pride.CHECK
4. You love being in a community of writers. You value their critiques. There is mutual support. You consider the community of writers to be a world of its own, and every genre is a different culture. CHECK
You cringe when you make typos in a chatroom, and wish you could go back to edit conversations. EXTRA CHECK, CHECK , CHECK BECAUSE ALL THOUGH I DO CONSIDER MYSELF A WRITER AND A GOOD ONE. MY SPELLING SUCKS BIG TIME!
GREAT TRADITIONAL BLOG GRIMM, OOPS I MEAN SAGE (:
Awesome! I just knew you were a real writer ;) And Grimm, huh? You know me so well lol
Sometimes I think writing is the same as art (isn’t writing a form of art too?). Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Also…I feel there are just some things that can be taught about writing but most of it is practice though the most important would be to write from the heart?
It’s a nice list and unique too (well to me anyways ;) )
Thanks for sharing!
Yes I think all artforms share some things in common, and I believe it is like you said, expressing yourself from the heart. Maybe some might say, there is no art without passion? Even some artistic movements like Dadaism makes a statement, and statements come from opinions, and some could argue that opinions tend to be passionate, especially if you’re motivated enough by your opinion to make a statement… lol I think you know what I mean ;)
Definitely! One of my sons IS an artist — like he can draw and paint things really well. I “draw and paint” with words. It is an art to express with words in such a way that the reader sees an image in his/her mind. I love that I am able to do this. And I have been “thinking about getting back to something i’m writing” for weeks now. You may have just inspired me to finish that essay and get it posted. Thank you both
Awesome! Do it, and I’d like it if you’d let me know when you post it, I’d love to read it. :)
Hello Sage — When I re-visited the draft, I realized it was complete (for now) and went ahead and published. Here is the link: http://wp.me/P2BC2S-by Let me know how you like it.
Now I’ve begun another “episode” of this City of Light story that I am writing. Thanks for your encouragement.
Amazing description of the desert, and the goal of the project. A stunning post. I was engrossed and a little jealous ;) Thank you so much for sharing, well done!
Brilliant. Your versatility continues to amaze me. Genuine and authentic, I loved it!
Well thank you so much, that is an enormous compliment! Thank you :)
Great description! I guess I was in a sort of mazy state. Not sure. But I guess, your post sort of shouts, yells, blares, screams, bawls(in a good way) that yes, YOU ARE A WRITER. And I now know, I am a writer. Thanks much Sage. :-)
While I checked all those points you listed, I think, if there were 50 more, I’d be checking those too. ;-)
Splendid post and facts there. Hence, reblogged.
-Asha
That’s great! I’m so glad you were able to recognize that you are most definitely a writer! I think writers can often be a little unsure of themselves from time to time, so it’s important to learn how to recognize your worth regularly, and then later be able to draw on that strength as needed. Thanks for letting me know the positive way my post affected you :)
Most motivatingly positive as this post is, I wish to keep coming for more!
Keep writing Sage!
-Asha
Awesome, so glad to have you here! I’ll be by your blog often as well. You write beautifully and have a fine skill of articulating your unique insight.
Reblogged this on Asha's Blog and commented:
Thank you Sage for listing these.
Thank you for reblogging me!
Pleasure Sage! :-)
-Asha
Very interesting! I do not consider myself a writer. I just write, I used to write. But…
1: yes
2: yes, but just a little bit
3 a: think of publishing, exposing what I wrote (screenplays, tales) is something I still do not face with tranquility.
4: yes
5: I prefer not to comment lol
Extra: yes lol
Well you sound like you could be a writer, if this is a problem, and you don’t want to be a writer, I suggest reading some James Joyce ;)
I just don’t think I’m good enough and for this reason I don’t see myself as a writer. I don’t feel like one, you know?! But I will do that ;)
Ah, I wanted to be a scriptwriter. ^_^
I just re-examined your blog and you are talented, don’t doubt yourself. You’ve got a knack for blatant expression, coming right out with it, sometimes like a slap in the face–in a good way, means you make an impact. I think you’d write an amazing script. Yes, you are definitely good enough. :)
Wow! Thank you very much! :)
Just being honest, come back anytime you need a confidence booster lol
lol I’ll do that! Maybe it’s what I’m needing to be courageous enough to post parts of my scripts. ^_^
Yeah, just do it, I posted some things I wasn’t sure about and even though I got positive feedback, eventually I decided I wasn’t happy with it and made it prvt or trashed it. Sometimes you just have to put it out there, you may be surprised and find a new confidence in your work :)
Ok! I’ll stop think and just do it. ;)
Yeah!!!
it’s done! :/
Awesome, when I get home, I’m going to have a look ;)
Yes to the typos! WHY can’t we go back and edit them?
Yes it’s frustrating lol Or phrasing things wrong and not being able to fix it. Since it’s a conversation at the keyboard, it’s like writing without the ability to edit. What a tease!
Well said.
Thank you!
agree with almost everything..especially the inner validation and the typos:)
Very nice, do you have others you think are true that I didn’t mention?
think you mentioned almost everything:) but it is very hard to make a living out of writing…It is not possible for every writer except a few lucky ones..and we also berate ourselves if we don’t put our thoughts down immediately…only to forget it later:))
Yes someone said that above, pflead73 about holding in your thoughts, which is very true for all of us. The ideas too easily slip away. And yeah, it’s so rare to have that chance to make a living with writing, but I want to try anyway ;) So there’s another one, we know the challenge, but we try anyway. Thanks for commenting!
Great one! So, I can say, I am a writer too! ;)
Thanks Asha! I was recently pondering over the fact, that if I could ever be a writer, but at that, I meant, if I could ever be published. But now I think, I already am one, and publishing would only add some others in my support, not change the fact.
Good one! BTW you are a good non-fiction writer… ;)
I just went to your blog and you have some great poetry. And yes it doesn’t take publication to make a writer, because if that were true, then I’m not a writer either, and neither are a lot of talented folks I know ;) And thank you for the compliment and commenting!
Well, thanks for the compliment!
And no…we all are writers, published or not. I have seen lots of people getting published just because of their “collars”, you know, and the content is not so worthy even. And some bloggers here, wow! how we love them! So, its all plain luck at times…but it should not matter on our passions. Should it?
And that was a pleasure here! You are welcomed, and thanks for taking time to reply. ;)
Yeah sometimes I see what’s out there and think, ‘ok why am I not published?’ it seems a little skewed. But the answer is simple: I spend more time writing than working to publish lol. Statistics in that tell me I shouldn’t be published. So this is why I’m taking the time to work towards that these next few weeks. Can’t get published if you don’t submit right? Or should I say, you can’t win the lottery if you don’t by a ticket? Chances have got to be similar ;)
Same here and many other psychos like us!!! ;)
lol yep :)
Enjoying the view from the top of this I’m a writer cuz I write post.
lol excellent one, thanks!
Sadly the “typos” obsevations rang a bell or twelve. I am a shy writer. I believe in myself, but that does’nt mean anyone else does. Put it this way. The “Likes” you’ve received on this post far outstrip anything any of my posts have achieved. You deserve them without doubt, for originality and energy, You give heart to those who can only dream
Aw well, thank you so much. A lot of these likes are from the past two times I posted this too, you know we have waves of new people who come and go now and then, so sometimes when you repost, you have those new people to read your work. I think your narrative is so fluidly written, You don’t have any reason to compare yourself with anyone else. And please don’t evaluate your worth as a writer depending upon the amount of likes you receive. It’s not to do with talent, it’s just exposure, as simple as that :)
;)
“You may be unsure of your talents or your worth, and any criticism may devastate you.” – Me, through and through.
This was a very fun read, Sage. Thanks for sharing.
(Reminds me of “You might be a redneck” – that shit is funny here in the midwest.)
lol I’ve heard the redneck bit. There are similar ones, ‘you know you’re a new englander’ or ‘you know you’re from Boston’ I love that stuff.
Making fun of other people is fun.
Especially when you’re better than them.
;)
hahahaa you’re funny
You are very wise. Great post. I would add that there is a reason the button you hit when you’re done says ‘publish’ – you are publishing your work at that moment.
Well thank you! And yeah, that is a FANTASTIC point. It is publishing absolutely. Thanks for saying that!
Oh, I know the cringing well. And the going back 30 times to revise even after I revised 30 times before I “published.” Once I ran out to the mailbox to retrieve the envelope I had just posted–to make more changes.
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever looked back after it was sealed up in an envelop before lol
Great post…..I will now fully consider myself a writer!! Thanks Sage!
Awesome! You definitely should and you should never doubt it!
Thanks!!
That drive is the thing that says it all for me. If you have something to say and you have to put it down on paper (or in Word) then you’re a writer. The other stuff reinforces the idea.
I also think publication is validation enough for some writers. It always has been for me (or maybe I’m just weird, lol). I’ve never been paid enough to make a difference… although I have been rejected enough to make me cry sometimes, lol.
Yeah, “You know you’re a writer if rejection is routine…” lol And yes publication can be validation, but not being published is not validation of the contrary. Like Hotspur said, just hitting publish on the blog is publication, and essentially that’s true since publishers often won’t bother with anything that’s been on a blog or online because that’s considered first rights. I know you’re meaning getting accepted and published by a third party, that would definitely be validation for so many of us writers, but if we never have that experience, we are still writers in the end.
Oh yes, always writers in the end. I don’t think publication is necessary for anyone to call themselves a writer. It is just nice to feel the validation it brings :) Somewhere in what you wrote you mentioned being paid and making a living from it… that is what I addressed, lol. My brain goes faster than my fingers or vice versa. Sheesh!
Sorry, yes I think we are both saying the same thing but interpreting it all in circles lol Thanks for validating me ;)
Hug ya Sage! It’s all good :-)