When Should You Feel Comfortable Calling Yourself a WRITER?

[gonzo2802]

Just bored and curious.

I'm sure most of us here think of ourselves as writers, because we've recognized that writing is something we enjoy doing (even when it drives us insane). I've realized though, I only currently refer to myself as a "writer" when I'm around my writing friends, online, etc.

When non-writing people ask me what I do, I never rattle off "I'm a writer". I'll say I like to write ... or I'm working on drafting a novel ... but I never officially label myself a writer.

I think, for me, before I feel comfortable referring to myself as one to the world at-large, I need to have something published first. Because, let's face it, when you tell the average person that you're a writer they are going to ask you about the books you "have out".

I'm wondering how everyone else feels. Do you already refer to yourself as a "writer" to anyone and everyone you know? If not, when do you think you'll feel comfortable earning the title ... when you land an agent? A publishing deal?

Again, there aren't any right or wrong answers. Just curious to see how everyone feels personally.

[dios4vida]

I call myself a writer, and I've found that not a whole lot of people put much stock into it. They either get excited and ask if you have anything published or just shrug you off as an idealist or someone wishing for something they'll never achieve (the whole "yeah, I've always wanted to write a book, too" routine).

In my mind, I can't call myself an 'author' or a 'novelist' until I get something published. I'm not entirely sure on the distinction, but that's my personal input.

[Holly]

I think of myself as a human being and could give a hoot if I'm a "writer."

My goal: just write a good story.

[Ciara]

I would never call myself a writer to any "real life" people. I think the non-writing public only think you're a writer if you're published. I think they don't realise how much goes into the pre-publication stages.

[Robin]

I called myself a writer when asked what I did at a formal luncheon recently and felt invigorated, like I was coming out of the closet or something (not that I'm gay). Its like sharing your most important secret with the world.

After I got home, I was fired up and wrote 5K words!!!

Hi, my name is Robin and I am a writer, baby!!!

[bronwyn1]

Robin, I totally know how you feel with that "coming out of the writerly closet" feeling.

Whenever I tell people that I write and am working on a novel, working on query letters, etc, I always feel like they think I'm super pretentious because they think that "real authors" are somehow "above" them or only pretentious people work on novels or something. My age might also have something to do with it (like, who do you think you are, eighteen year old trying to get published?)

[OtherLisa]

Well, it's either "writer" or "unemployed former film/television studio bureaucrat," so I'm going to go with "writer," for brevity's sake...

[Bryan Russell/Ink]

Well, it's either "writer" or "unemployed former film/television studio bureaucrat," so I'm going to go with "writer," for brevity's sake...

Wait, wait... doesn't everyone love unemployed former film/television studio bureaucrats?

[polymath]

I'm inclined to think writers write, be it creatively, technically, academically, socially, or whatever. When one is able to string otherwise abstract glyphs into a meaningful and shareable narrative, it's writing and it's a writer who does it.

For most writers, the need and ability emerges in kindergarten or soon thereafter. Whenever I see or hear someone who's written or said "aspiring writer," I die a little. Aspiring to be able to communicate in writing? I have a three-year-old nephew who's an aspiring writer. Just hand him a crayon and he goes at it.

Author isn't much different in meaning from writer, dennotatively. Poet or another language equivalent was the term for a creative writer regardless of genre prior to the Fourteenth century. Because of English language words' tendency toward second syllable stress, writing and speaking it tends to be in iambic rhythm, a short syllable followed by a long syllable, as in the word wri t-e-r. Trochee is the opposite of iambus, pronouncing a stressed--long--syllable followed by an unstressed--short--syllable, as in D-i-d it, and has a more rapid and rolling gait than iambus. All prose is poetry when it's perceived as such.

The thread topic question is mostly in iambus, a line of heptameter with an additional, changeup stressed syllable, fifteen syllables in short-unstressed, long-stressed sequence. When S-h-o-u-l-d you F-e-e-l Com f-o-r ta b-l-e Call i-n-g Your s-e-l-f a Wri t-e-r. The particle "a" affects the rhythm, following the stressed "self" with a stressed syllable. To be frank, only for illustrative purposes, I feel the impact of the question is blunted by the particle. //When Should You Feel Comfortable Calling Yourself WRITER?//

In my view of the cosmos, we creative writers are poets. I've been a writer since nursery school, poet not long thereafter, and published-in-class author as soon in time. My calling card with my phone number and public e-mail address reads, Starving Poet, Artisan, Woodcrafter. When someone asks me what I do for a living, and it's not the most polite question to ask, I answer, Work. An emotionally interesting and interested interlocutor would ask, What are your passions? Then I answer, Reading, appreciating beauty, creating art. If the conversation goes on from there, something more meaningful might develop.

[KellyWittmann]

Anyone who loves writing should feel perfectly free to refer to himself as a "writer." Now, "author," that's a whole different story (pun intended)...

[gonzo2802]

Robin, I love the "coming out of the closet" analogy!

[Robin]

Gonzo- thanks, but I am being totally honest. Your turn, lets hear it:

Hello, I'm (state your name), and I am a writer!!

[Quill]

I consider myself a writer but I don't call myself a writer. I tell some people that I write. Most don't need to know. Here at the forums I'm home, so to speak, so yeah, I'm a writer! If I get published and go on to scribble full time I'll probably call myself a writer.

There is value right now in keeping it quiet, letting it incubate, grow. Keeping the pressure low. Keeping the need to explain the hugely long time-frame to a minimum. My creative process requires solitude and privacy. There'll be plenty of time to call me a writer after I'm dead. lol

[gonzo2802]

Hello, I'm Tracy ... and I'm a writer!

Now, if only I could say it OUT LOUD. lol

[gonzo2802]

Man, now I just read Quil's response and decided I want to let it incubate ... after I already came out. Dern it!