I Am A Writer
I am a writer.
It took me years to actually feel comfortable with saying that. I always said “aspiring writer” or “aspiring journalist.” I could never be so bold as to claim I was a writer. I wasn’t necessarily getting paid to do it. I was on my university’s student newspaper. And then I started working in PR, where I wrote press releases. Sure, I’d freelance for our local magazine and get paid for that.
But, it still didn’t feel like I was an actual writer. Everyone else considered me a writer and would introduce me as such. But, I didn’t own it. It’s not like I was on the New York Times Bestseller list for writing novels or memoir style books with essays.
A little over a year ago, I took a Masterclass with Shonda Rhimes (creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal”) and she talked about this very thing. She said to drop the “aspiring.” Either you’re a writer or you aren’t. If you write, then you are a writer. Otherwise, it seems like you aren’t serious about it. Maybe that’s the moment I started believing or decided that I’d always been serious about writing and it was time to call myself one.
When I look back, I’ve always been a writer. As soon as I could write, I was using my imagination and writing something down.
I was always fascinated by stories, whether it was hearing my grandparents talk about my parents growing up or stories I read from a magazine. I also enjoyed writing my own, even if they were short stories about a cat or a young girl following her dreams.
Throughout high school, I’d zone out of chemistry or math class, because I’d have an idea for a short story and I’d be jotting down dialogue and falling behind in my notes. Oops. I’d stay up late working on an idea or I’d go into the library during my lunch if friends went off campus to write and brainstorm.
But, here I am today…Still writing. And finally putting it out there in the world instead of keeping it to myself.
I guess the hard thing about being a writer, though is getting personal. It means talking about your life. Sharing about people you know. Things you’ve overcome or struggles that you’re currently going through. Conversations you’ve had. Experiences.
I tend to lean more towards the private side and don’t want to go into too much, especially on the internet. Vulnerability. But, if I’m a writer and that’s what I’m here to do…That’s something I need to get used to and need to be better about.
I think this is the first year I’ve realized that. Thanks to friends encouraging me to post on social media or to write more. Or being authentic to who I am and what I’m interested in. Yes, the world has a lot of writers and a lot of people who have opinions about everything these days. But, they don’t have my voice or perspective. I have something to offer and I belong here just as much as anyone.
So…I am a writer. And I’m here to stay.