I’m not trying to convince you, but myself!
Writing is an important part of my life, however when people ask me what I do for a living I stumble over the words. AM I a writer? Roy, who I have to say is hugely supportive of what I do, and always takes an interest, has no qualms about introducing me as a freelance writer, although I cringe a little when he does sometimes. If I say I’m a blogger I can see the mental shutters coming down behind people’s eyes, as for so many blogging is still perceived as a hobby. When I say I’m a writer people are interested… “Who do you write for?”, is met with “Well I’m freelance, so I write for many different people, mostly online and urm…”
Shutters – Slam.
I can’t blame people really, I struggle with it sometime, despite seeing the money in the bank and the emails coming and going. I can’t be too bad a writer surely, if people pay me? Regardless I struggle with the idea that I, Nicki Cawood, of a small-ish town in North Yorkshire, who has never done a journalistic or creative writing course, deserves the title. I don’t consider myself to have “made it”, far from it – my writing career is in it’s infancy, but at some point I will have to get over the mental stumbling block as I’m afraid it will start to hold me back.
You see, “Writer” is a hell of a title. It brings to mind an exclusive club with membership to only those who are worthy of it. How can I dare to presume that I could belong there? Roy’s answer to this is: “Do people read your work? Do they seek you out and pay you to write for them? Do you love writing? Then you are a writer!“. Put like that it makes perfect sense, I do all these things, I love to write and get huge satisfaction from it.
Am I the only one who feels like this sometimes?
I found this on Pinterest recently and it really struck a chord with me and made me smile. I’m tempted to have it put up somewhere!
If you find yourself asking yourself
(and your friends)
“Am I REALLY a writer? Am I REALLY an artist?”
Chances are you are.
The counterfeit innovator is wildly self confident.
The real one is scared to death!
*Steven Pressfield – The Art of War
Thanks for reading,
Nicki Cawood, Freelance Writer & Blogger.
Damn it – you so are!
Lol- sod it, you are right… I’m bloody marvellous! :p
You are and a good one at that, I love your writing style 🙂 In fact I might have a tiny job for you if something else comes through! 🙂 xx
I knew I liked you for a reason LOL! Thanks lovely, it’s nice to hear you enjoy the ramblings.
I’ve often found, that those who say they’re not quite there yet with their love, whether it’s writing, art, photography, whatever… they’re the ones that most definitely *do* deserve the title they argue with themselves about. 😉 x
Well said my dear 🙂
Fab post, Nicki. You are a writer – an absolutely fabulous one. As I said the other day, I love your style and choice of topics and that’s why I’m coming back for more – every day x
Thanks so much Carolin! It still amazes me that people choose to read C&C and don’t need to be bribed or threatened lol! I think I just need to start believing in myself a little more!
One day, when i grow up *cough*, I would love to say “I am a writer”. In the meantime I love practicing X
Lol, ah, see that’s where I have a problem. I’m firmly in the “You have to grow old, you don’t have to grow up” camp 🙂
Yes, I know where you’re coming from. I have this problem too. I say I’m an author now, because, well, I am. But I’m also a farmer, which is officially my occupation and what is listed on my records at the tax office! But there lies another problem; when someone asks a woman what she does and she replies “I’m a farmer” the shutters come down as you so elegantly put it, and people either snigger, makes pathetic jokes about me driving a tractor or assume I meant “farmer’s wife.” Believe, I feel like punching them when they assume that!!!
So now I just say “I’m an author” and they ask “what have you published”. I tell them about my book. It often does the trick but when one thinks about it in hindsight, should you really have to justify or explain why you call yourself a “writer” or an “author” or even a “farmer”?
CJ xx
I think for me it’s less about justifying myself to others (although I’d be lying if I wouldn’t be thrilled to be recognised as a writer and not get the dumb look!), and more about myself feeling confident enough to use the title.
Who am I kidding, it really pisses me off sometimes when the first assumption is that I’m just “playing”.
You really are a writer. I am struggling to explain my new job to people and again when I say blogger they haven’t a clue. If people pay you and seek you out then you really do deserve the title.
Thank you lovely 🙂
If we do it, we are it. Thats how I am trying to look at it. I am not sure if I will ever convince myself though.
x
From someone who also struggles with the title, despite having left a ‘proper’ job to pursue it full-time, I hear you.
It does feel like a title you have to earn, but as writers, would we ever feel deserving of the title? If we were JK Rowling maybe.
I think practice makes perfect, just keep saying it until you would feel daft saying anything else!
I am so with you on this Nicki, I often say to people ‘Oh, I’m sort of(ish) a writer’ Not very confidence inspiring is it!
The other day at the school gates (new school too) a woman said in front of lots of mums ‘Ooh, aren’t you that author?’ I went beet red and muttered ‘Oh it was just one little book’ then I went on to explain I was mainly a blogger and glazed looks appeared.
We need to speak up with confidence that we are indeed writers and bloggers and be PROUD!
Thanks Becky – we are our own worst enemies really!
People who are trying to make you justify it. Well my guess is they are the insecure ones. Your a writer a very good one. It also pays a wage so next time someone says anything point that out!!
Mine is just a hobby, so for now I say housewife and mother and I get looked down on for that especially by my in laws!
Rather than someone else trying to make me justify myself as a writer, it’s more myself daring to call myself one 🙂
Well I’m an official judge – and I say you’re not only a writer, you’re someone who makes a living out of being a writer – so even better!
In that case I won’t dare to argue…
I AM A WRITER FOLKS!! 🙂