I was reading some material
on the net today that really hit home with me. It was a bunch or “writers” responding
to an editor who was trying to encourage them to write by infusing them with
confidence in themselves. The gist of the message was that you need
to believe yourself “a writer” in order to become one. Most of the responders
to the message had problems with calling themselves “WRITERS”.
Before I published, I, too,
was reluctant to call myself a “writer”.
I feared being ridiculed because I felt it was too presumptuous of me. I have since
published my books and I don’t know if that is the reason or if I am just now
starting to see straight. When asked
what I do, I now can confidently say “I am a writer”. I don’t view it as some prestigious
title or award. I am simply answering the query about what I do. I write – consequently – I am a writer! No
big deal. You lay bricks – you are a bricklayer. What is this thing about titles??? Why are we so hung up about “titles”
all the time? We do what we do – consequently we carry the label. No biggie! Why do we intimidate ourselves by
attaching so much importance to things that really do not matter at all in the
grand scheme of things?
When I started writing, I
did not know if I would publish, but my motto was “even if I never publish, at
least I will have had a whole lot of fun trying!" And I did have fun! And it had
absolutely nothing to do with pronouncing myself a “writer!” Let’s lighten up
folks. We’re all just people who do things--- and liking to do what we do is just icing on the cake!
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