This guest post is by David Bruns. David is the creator of the sci-fi series The Dream Guild Chronicles and co-author of Weapons of Mass Deception, a novel of modern-day nuclear terrorism. Get his Starter Library for free at davidbruns.com.

“I am a writer.”

In America, where so often our job defines who we are, these four little words can throw a wrench into the gears of polite conversation.

4 Reactions I Get When I Tell People “I Am Writer”

I Am a Writer? Really?

There was a time when I sported some pretty meaty titles: lieutenant in the US Navy, Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Asia-Pacific Operations. The kind of titles that take up two lines on a business card and say, “This guy is important.”

But were those titles really me?

After ten years in the navy, I played the part of a hardcore, no-nonsense business guy for almost two decades, leaving the creative side of my personality hidden deep—waaay deepdown inside of me.

Although my calling to become a writer had been building for a long time, most of that tension was invisible to my professional colleagues. All this backstory is a long way of saying that my “coming out” as a writer probably seemed like a radical life change.

So what happens when I tell people I’m a writer?

After some field-testing, I’ve segmented the reactions into four broad categories.

1. Happiness without Comprehension.

In many ways, this is the best possible outcome.

The person you’re talking to has no idea how to process what you just told them, but that’s okay.

If you’re happy with the change, they’re happy for your happiness. Moms, close family members, and friends fall into this category.

2. This Too Shall Pass

I have a few business colleagues who give me a sideways look and then say something along the lines of: “This is a mid-life crisis, right? You said no to a sports car and decided to change your career instead? Call me when it’s over.”

In a way, this response is kind of flattering. I was good at my job. People remember that and want me to come back.

3. Rage, Anger, and Something Dark

I was not prepared for this reaction at all.

Some people get angry with me for making such a radical career change. One former business colleague even told me in an irate email that he wished “his wife would support him” so he could do what he wanted to do with his life.

I chalk up these negative responses (and there’s only a few) to jealousy and other negative emotions. Don’t engage the haters. Life is too short.

4. Understanding

The most rewarding response of all is from people who understand on a gut level why I want to do this with my life.

Who knew my dental hygienist was also a singer/songwriter? Or that a Navy buddy was co-writing a screenplay?

These are just a few of the people I’ve befriended simply because I said, “I’m a writer” and their whole perception of me as a fellow creative changed.

Claim Your Title

I traded emails on this topic with an acquaintance recently and she wrote back, “I find that so many of my friends in this age group are getting “stuck” in their lives…dreaming about their passions, but not taking the action.”

In You Are A Writer, Jeff Goins talks about claiming your place in the world. Don’t be tentative and add “aspiring” or “wannabe” to the tag of writer. Own it.

Jeff is right, but there’s another reason to claim your title. After twenty years in business and a few job searches, I can tell you that people have an innate need to instantly categorize a new acquaintance. We all do it. It’s a defense mechanism that allows us to function in our lives.

Can you imagine what would happen if we had to fully analyze each and every sensory input that hit us during the day? We’d never get out of bed in the morning!

This pigeon-holing happens in the first few seconds after an introduction. But here’s the most important part: you can have the power to name your place in their mind.

The Moral of The Story?

The reactions you get don’t matter. What matters is who you say you are.

Be brave. Be bold. Claim your title.

PRACTICE

When you claim your title, people will often ask you, “What do you write?” What’s your answer?

Take fifteen minutes and write out your “elevator pitch,” two or three clear, definitive sentences that describe you as a writer. Include items that are going to make it easy on your listener: genre, major influences, and easy references, such as “my books are like…”

Share your “I am a writer” elevator pitch in the comments section. Then, go practice it in the mirror, practice on your friends, then look for an opportunity to practice out in the real world.

Have fun!

This article is by a guest blogger. Would you like to write for The Write Practice? Check out our guest post guidelines.

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