I'm beginning a long season of travel. Yesterday, I got home from California, where I had a few meetings and spent time with family. In July, I'll be in Portland for World Domination Summit (if you'll be there, let me know!). In August, there's Plywood Presents in Atlanta, and the Tribe Writers conference in Nashville, where I'll be speaking (you should come!).
What this means for me is that I have to explain what I do for a living a lot. It's not easy, at least for me. I am a writer, yes, but what does that really mean?
When I Say I'm a Writer, Here's How the Conversation Always Goes
“Oh cool. What do you write?”
“Oh, I do a bunch of things.” The vagueness is a poor attempt at modesty—I know how many people want to become writers.
“I ghostwrite books,” I continue, “write some of my own, and run a few websites. I'm working on writing fiction though.”
This is where I lose people. Wait, ghostwrite? What the heck is that. And hang on you can make money running a website?
Usually, the conversation steers toward an explanation of what ghostwriting is or talking about this blog. E.g. “So how do you actually make money doing that?”
I'm aware this isn't the best way to introduce yourself as a writer. I should say something simpler, something that sounds, I don't know, more confident?
But making a living as a writer is anything but simple. As nearly every full-time writer knows, you have to either have a smashing success or you have piece together a living from a thousand different angles to make a living as writer.
What I Really Do As a “Writer”
I could break down my income of how I actually make a living as a writer like some internet marketing guy (no offense to them), but so much of my work isn't paid.
In fact, I spend most of my day working on this website, editing the posts published every day, writing my own, or doing boring tech and administrative work on it.
Much of the rest of the day is spent staring at the emails you send me. Or at the emails I send you.
Is that a job? And how do I explain it to people? Should I explain it to people? Or just leave it at, “I am writer?”
Becoming a Writer
In my guide 10 Steps to Becoming a Writer, I said:
No one is born a writer. You must become a writer. In fact, you never cease to become, because you never stop learning how to write. Even now, I am becoming a writer. And so are you.
If you don't know if you feel like a “real writer,” you're not alone. I often don't feel like one either.
I've written a couple books, a feat many people dream about but don't accomplish. I have the privilege of running The Write Practice, which has become a large, award-winning blog, mostly thanks to you, dear readers.
And yet I'm not satisfied. Not even close. Honestly, I even feel afraid of satisfaction. There's so much more I want to accomplish, and I worry that if I let myself feel content about what I've done, I'll never achieve my goals.
At the same time, I'm afraid I'll never be able to accomplish what I really want, and that this is as good as it will get. But mixed with that fear is shame since it's still more than many people get to do and shouldn't I be satisfied? It's all very circular and confusing.
The point is that I'm STILL becoming a writer. I'm STILL working out what kind of writer I want to be and how to make that happen practically. (Want to share that on Twitter?)
In the meantime, we will just have to keep writing.
Do you want to become a writer?
Speaking of becoming a writer, on Monday, we officially opened Becoming Writer, our premium community that helps writers finish their books and stories and get published.
One member told me recently, “Finally, I’ve taken the plunge. This community is one of the single best decisions I ever made.”
There are still a few spots left, and we'd love to have you.
You can click to learn more and sign up here.
We'll be closing down enrollment on Wednesday at midnight Eastern Time, but we may sell out before that. If you'd like to write more and get published, make sure to sign up for Becoming Writer today.
Thank you!
How about you? Do you still feel like you're becoming a writer? Let us know in the comments.
PRACTICE
What could you do that would make you feel more like a writer today (e.g. finishing a story, writing a blog post, taking a long walk with your notebook, reading a good book, etc.)?
First, post it in the comments. Then, go do it! Don't forget to report back how it went.
Have fun!
I always struggle with calling myself a writer. I have written stories since I was in grade school. Reading and writing was, and always has been, a strong suit throughout my life. When I was thirteen, I began writing poetry and prose. I continued writing on a regular basis until about a year and a half ago. Everything I wrote felt like garbage. Everything I continue to write is still lackluster. I always want to write the right story and discontinue my focus on poetry, which truthfully was more of an emotional outlet than one that I cared to share. I’m confused on where my niche is. I usually end up calling myself a hobbyist writer. I’ve never published anything, I’ve never written a book, and I’ve only managed to write hundreds of poems, and probably around 6 short stories, that made their way into the bin. I still want to be a writer, though. I hold onto hope that an idea will plant itself inside of my mind and will begin to take shape through words.
I think the more I keep reading and expanding my collection of literature, the more I’ll be compelled to write. I also think it’ll be more likely to spark an idea.
Alayna,
Often, trying to force an idea is useless. Try getting an inspiration from a painting or a photograph and make up a story about what you see. .Borrow from your family and friends. Take something that they have done and rewrite the ending. Or a news story. Ask the What if? question.
If you think the stories you have already written are lackluster, go over them line by line. Replot them. You say you read literature. That’s good, but have you read books on the craft of writing, on how to structure a story, how to plot, how to build tension?
Take one of your stories and try to go over it point by point. Maybe this will help.
Good luck.
Adelaide
Another new idea: I read children’s literature for inspiration and have found many different formats recently in this pleasureable endeavor. One of my newest recommendations is “This Journal Belongs to Ratchet” by Nancy J Cavanaugh. (I cannot go a day without recommending a great book!) This gem is a journal of a home -schooled girl who has every type of writing assignment from her home school Language Arts book which she uses to express her feelings. I ‘ll bet you will be engaged by Ratchet and learn from her writing whether it is poetry, a persuasive letter, or a memo. Happy Reading and Writing in 2015!
Sounds like you write a lot. You only get better as a writer by writing a lot, so you’re on the right track. Adelaide’s advice is right on point.
The best way to ensure an idea plants itself is to keep writing! Ideas are limitless. The world has plenty. What it lacks is action. I love that you’re writing even though you don’t feel like it. I hope you’ll keep going!
Hey the Write Practice community. I am a Poet, novelist, and educator who teaches writing in Beij.ng; to make me feel more like a writer, I will schedule focused writing blocks twice per week where I can write exclusively out of passion, joy, and to find myself. I feel like writing frees me, clarifies ideas, and helps me process.
Blest regards Joe & community
I hesitated to call myself a writer until I had at least three stories published. I didn’t get paid for them, but having been published gave me the courage to say I was a writer. Before then, I would say “I write. I write short stories and Japanese short form poetry.” I wanted someone else, not a friend or relative, to validate my writing before I felt comfortable in saying “I am a writer.” I don’t earn any money with my writing, but I get published in small journals. My poetry has won some prizes, and now and again, some editor asks me to judge a contest or write a review of a haiku book. Again, none of this is for money, but for the love of writing.
Others who write may have have more courage and confidence in their work than I did when I began and feel comfortable calling themselves a writer even if they have published nothing yet. My advice is to stick with it.
Adelaide
Calling ourselves writers seems to be a common struggle. Congratulations on having so many publishing opportunities. It says you’re definitely a writer. But you were clearly one before as well. Best of luck.
It sounds like you set a good goal for yourself, Adelaide. Did you find it motivated you to write more?
I just arrived at the beach for a week-long vacation. I brought my notebook and favorite pen with me. This evening I’m going to sit on the sand with my pen and notebook and write whatever comes to mind! I love being by the water, so I hope inspiration will strike.
Even though I’ve had stories published online, I still don’t really call myself a writer. I should, I know, because it’s something I’m passionate about. Maybe the more stories I get published, the easier it will be to call myself a writer!
I struggled with calling myself a writer. But if you write, you’re a writer. At least, that’s what I learned from Jeff Goins.
I love the idea of sitting down with a notebook and pen. I use a computer all the time. I can’t remember the last time I handwrote something.
Good luck on whatever you come up with.
Thanks so much, Tom! Good luck to you too!
This sounds so fun, Cynthia. Please let us know how it goes! Pictures?
You should try calling yourself a writer and see what happens!
Thanks, Joe! It is fun. I just noticed that you could post pics here. I’ll try it!
I struck up a conversation once with a man in line at a thrift store. After I said I worked at home, he asked what I did. “I’m a writer,” I said. And then came the usual question: “What do you write?” My answer: “Whatever clients pay me to write.” The look on his face changed. “Oh,” he said. “you write for money!”
I’ve been involved in writing from many directions for a long time now, most recently not just as a writer but as a writing teacher and coach. And I’ve listened and tried to help many many students wrestle with just this “identity crisis” that’s so much a part of the creative world as opposed to other kinds of work oeople do. Part of the problem is that writing is so many things to so many people. You can be a writer if you write a journal for yourself, a freelancer who writes for clients, a poet, a novelist, a journalist, and the list goes on and on. And to complicate matters even more, we are, as you’ve said, many of those things all at the same time.
Not being able to really identify ourselves as part of a profession makes it hard, I think, for others to respect that profession. We wouldn’t have the same hesitation if we were lawyers or doctors – and nobody asks one of those people what they’ve done to feel like a lawyer today. This post raises some important things to think about as writers struggle to find their place in a world where creativity, professionalism and business intersect with no clear rules.
It’s hard sometimes feeling the need to make money to justify writing as a worthwhile endeavor. Great points.
There’s certainly a need in our society to determine the “worth” of something with a dollar sign. And of course creative work has worth that isn’t defined that way. But what happens all too often is that the different dimensions of what writing is and can be for each of us get mixed up, so that the money making aspect of writing doesn’t get the status and respect it deserves – nor do the more creative and personal aspects. That’s really what makes it hard to claim an actual identity as a writer – or at least one that non writers understand and respect.
Yes, I definitely identify with the huge gap between the idealization of being a writer and the actuality of my daily life.
I don’t know if I fully agree that others don’t have similar problems. There’ can be a big gap between the respect you get for being a litigator vs. a tax attorney. Still, I think they definitely don’t face the same difference in perception as we do.
Thank you for sharing this, CJ.
One of the ways I convince myself that I am a writer is with my passwords! I won’t share these secret ones, but I always use the word writer in them. Now I hope no identity thief is reading our “secret ” blog!
We’re a special group. I think the only people who really truly understand writers are, well, writers. Keep on writing, CJ!
I spend a lot of time ghostwriting as well. I’ve ghostwritten a novel, several short stories, and six screenplays. I’ve done it not because I love ghostwriting, but because it’s a way to earn money for my family. And it helps me to become a better writer. Of course, as a ghostwriter, no one realizes how much I actually have written, and that can be frustrating.
In addition to ghostwriting stories, I actually ghostwrite articles for a writing blog in addition to writing for my own blog. I freelance write articles in the video game niche and really anywhere else that I can to make money.
I am always becoming a writer because what I really want to do is write best-selling novels and screenplays. But I don’t have an audience of my own quite yet, so I have to be content with the writing I do now.
Right now, after I work on all my paid assignments, I’ve been working on a serialized story I’m planning on releasing on Medium.com. Here’s the announcement https://medium.com/@farrtom/announcing-extraction-a-new-serialized-story-5061aabd9c02.
I’m continually impressed with you, Tom. You’re doing it!
Thanks, Joe! The Write Practice has been a helpful encouragement along the way.
I also have a very difficult time calling myself a writer. I have self-published my first book and my second is on its final draft and soon to be published as well. But I don’t feel I’ve earned the right to call myself a writer yet. I’ve been writing poetry and music since the 6th grade, and writing in a journal since I was 17.
But as I muddle through trying to “build a platform”, I feel I’ve failed in that area. Blogging doesn’t come easy to me even though I enjoy talking, telling stories and making people laugh. Being on Facebook and Twitter is a difficult thing for me to keep up with and still write my books in the time frame I give myself, and my editor (*smiles*).
But I’m still writing! Yes!
I’m very passionate about what I do. I do it full-time, even though I have not sold even fifty books, I appreciate that my first book is finally out there for others to enjoy if they want. I feel a sense of accomplishment, but know that I have such a long journey ahead of me before I can confidently say that I’m a writer.
I think you should start to say you are a writer, confidently or not, and try to live into it more each day. Keep writing. Keep risking. You’ll make it!
Hi, Callie! I think it’s great that you’ve accomplished what you have. You most definitely should call yourself a writer with all the confidence you can muster. I have written a very, very, very rough draft of a book, with the intention of self-publishing. One day I will be where you are now!
Good luck with your second book!
music is such a special form of writing. I’ve been writing songs since I was ten, and I enjoy it more than anything else. Whatever comes naturally is what you’re meant to write.
God bless, and congrats on all you’ve accomplished!
Hi Cynthia, Thank you very much! I know one thing that really made me feel good, was the look on both of my daughters face when I told them I had finished what I started a few years ago. Because of that, my oldest daughter completed her license to become a real estate agent, now she is going for her broker’s license. The pride in their eyes is priceless.
Now if I can only learn how to blog…
Good luck with your book as well, it’s an exciting process, even if it’s not bringing in an income yet. You will still feel so much pride in seeing your work out there, it’s awesome!
Have a great day!!
First off, Joe, I admire you for your ability to handle all that! Seeing all you’ve accomplished gives me hope for what I can become as a writer!
I think seeing something of mine actually published would definitely make me feel more like a writer, whether it’s a poem in a magazine, or a guest post on here :). I know it’s going to be a LONG time before my novel’s done, but just one published thing would do a lot for me, so that’s what I’m striving for!
Thanks for sharing all this with us writers! All that you do means a lot!
“Whatsoever ye do, do unto the glory of God”,
Reagan Colbert
That’s a good goal, Reagan! But a better goal is to write the best you can for yourself and the people around you each day. If you do that enough, getting published will happen. Seek first and the rest will follow. 🙂
FANTASTIC, Joe. Thanks for speaking my mind. Thanks for creating such a great community like TWP where so many of us benefit from that gift. Thanks for helping us all on our journeys to becoming writers.
You’re welcome x 3. But really I’m just trying to keep up with you, Marcy. 😉
Oh, look at you — you smooth talker. Safe and prosperous travels.
Nobody knows that I do writings. Even my friends and family didn’t know
about it. I keep on writings even if I have so many difficulties on doing it,
simply because I love to write. I got some ideas that as a writer there have no
assurance that you earn money from your work, but I keep doing it. I just feel
that writers are special. I am not sure what makes writers special, but base
from my personal observation when I say to myself that “I am a writer” I easily
appreciate simple things around me and ask myself; “do other people appreciate
it too?” I want people will appreciate simple things too and it inspire me to
write and what funny thing about it is that while I am thinking what I am going
to write I found myself blankly most of the time.
So good, Jean. Writing is first about seeing, training your eyes, your heart to catch the things most people miss.
I set a goal for myself to write a blog post every day for June and July. June is almost finished and I am going strong. I will also be participating in the teacher write community in July. These little steps and reading everything I can about writing (including your blog) have helped me find my voice and live like a writer.
What’s the teacher write commitment? It sounds fun!
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your post. You are a harworking man with many committments and yet you cater to them plus your wife and children. You are a writer.
I would like to be a writer but will never call myself one. It doesn’t matter any more.
I’ve come to a stage where writing is fun and I’m happy and feel priviledged o be a member of The Write Practice. Thanks for creating this fun-sharing community, and for all the free downloads to your books for us to improve our writing.
We feel privileged you’re part of this community, too, Lilian. Thank you for these kind words.
Joe – your perspective has helped mine. I started today in hopes of dealing with my writer’s block by journaling then making a gratitude list then reading this. Sometimes circumstances conspire to lend me hope. Thank you for this post. I feel less lonely inside of my confusion as a “writer”.
There are as many ways to be a writer as to be a person, but only one of them will fit you and your personality. Keep working, keep writing.
I have two stories that I need to get out of my head and onto “page”. They are buzzing around in my head waiting for direction. Argh!
Start writing tomorrow and write some every day before you forget them.
You’ll be determined to keep on writing once you start.
Best of luck.
Thank you!
George R.R. Martin said “Ideas are cheap. Execution is everything.” Now, go execute!
Yes, sir! 🙂
Great post again Joe! Writing five hundred more words of my story and exploring my protagonist a bit more would definitely make me feel better as a writer right now…so I’ll go and do just that!
The internet is a big distraction though 🙁
Awesome! How did it go?
I’ve been doing about 600 words every day now for the last three days. I can do two thousand, even three thousand, but somehow, I feel like dealing in the small right now. It helps me focus on the details without getting carried away.
All in all, it’s a win-win 🙂
Hey! Here’s something that I attempted..my official first attempt at fiction. Let me know your feedback/criticism/sugestions. Happy reading!
“Wake up within five minutes or get ready for some real spanking!”, Tina Mehta, 45, still slender and beautiful, screeched. Somehow, I always end up wondering how wrong these warnings sound from an otherwise angelic face. Yes, it’s her, my mother and also the mother of a 22 year old boy, Raj, an engineer and as expected a perpetually “confused-about-life” one. I woke up, frustrated, tired and with the usual pounding of head. Half past eight, wow, I wondered, hopeful of breaking yet another record of getting late for work.
Looking at the figure in the mirror, I almost let a scream, oh my gosh! I look shit! There was every feature on my face which is supposed to make you look awful and who knows, maybe I had even the new ones. Baaggy, dark under eyes, scars and blemishes from the terrible outburst of acne in my teenage years had left mypretty face, well, zombie-like. Just as I was about to lament about my dull hair and the extra kilos I had put on this Christmas, the screams returned. “Are you coming out of your room for breakfast or does our princess wants her food at her bed?” Though one part of me wanted to laugh out aloud to Mom’s hilarious sarcasm, the other part begged if she just stuffs her mouth with the breakfast she had made. My mom is a homemaker, a damn good one and a wonderful mother. But she has started becoming really whiny and moody these days, menopause age approaching, I assume.
Brushing my teeth at break neck, no, break teeth speed, I rushed to the dining table in our living room to spare myself from anymore snide remarks coming my way. And suddenly everyone was staring at me as if I had killed a man while rushing to the table and just as I started to think what wrong did I do now, everyone started laughing in unison like retards in an asylum. “She fell for it again!” said Riya, my 16 year old younger sister, so euphorically as if her profile picture on Facebook had just got 200 likes. “Not again, Shikha” Raj chirped in, while mom was still smiling sheepishly and serving the breakfast. “Give that poor soul a break, kids, shall we?” Harish Mehta a.k.a. Dad, my superhero crooned, though I already knew the prank was certainly his idea. I love my family, though it is totally lunatic but a lot had changed in the recent days.
It all started when I got a job as the assistant secretary of Neha Khanna, thefashion designer, the idol, the goddess of the goddesses, the epitome of glamour and style and surely the WORST boss on the planet. It was a few days after I turned twenty, six months ago that I had secured this job by sheer luck, bad luck. Though I like being trendy and fashionable, I hardly understand the hype about brands and their exotic prices for a piece of cloth which must be embellished with little sequins worth a few hundreds or a grand at the most. My senior, the secretary, Divya Sharma, is a creature I don’t think I will ever understand. I cannot call her my friend, neither an enemy because both the options seem too extreme, especially the former one. My workplace is located an hour and a half away from my house (in case of less traffic, or else it goes up to two hours or more sometimes) and I have to report at the office at 9 am sharp. The travel is too hectic, the job sucks but I am working just to earn some money and contacts to get into the PR sector of a celebrity or anybody as long as it’s not anyone like Neha.
I hurriedly had my breakfast, took a shower and got dressed in a record 25 minutes for which I decided to congratulate myself with a chocolate doughnut on reaching the hell house-my office. I literally sprinted toward the bus stop and caught the bus to M.G. Road, panting like a dog on the crowded bus, not to forget the dozen sets of eyes watching me pathetically. I reached the office at 10:15 am sharp and rushed inside while constantly searching the place for the sight of my devilish boss or the scent of her Christian Dior. I went to the restroom, breathing heavily and feeling relieved that I had reached there before my boss just when theNeha Khanna emerged from one of the washrooms, like a supernatural spirit, eyeing me like a lioness about to pounce on her prey. “May I know the time,please?” spat Neha, while I was dumbfounded, beads of sweat covering my almost make-up free face. My mind had an answer which was something like “Look at your fucking 200 dollar watch, you fool” but I meekly answered a “Good morning” with the most awkward smile on my face. Shit, I thought, what the hell did I just answered. Dismissing my greetings, she checked her latest iPhone for the time, instead of looking at her diamond encrusted watch. I thanked God for giving me brains. “Half past ten!” she shrieked, “Why? Are you not serious about your job?” As I was analyzing my brain for answers, searching for the rare ones withoutsarcasm, she scowled at me and warned me, “One more time you are late and you are fired.” Fuck. She walked out of the restroom with her usual air of grandeur and I was left there, looking at the terrorized face staring back at me. Something has to be done, I thought.
The day was filled with work, which seemed utterly meaningless to me. Divya was barking at me with orders every hour while herself typing frantically on the keyboard of her Mac. One of the few best things about my office was that the secretary, the assistant secretary and a few other important people got their own Mac computers to work on. I had to send emails to Neha’s clients, filled with so much politeness that it felt as if Mother Teresa had herself typed those emails. My work was to inform high society spoiled brats that the particular dress they ordered was ready and to remind the upper middle class people to make their pending payments. There were stupid things too which are better to be mentioned later. I felt like all the dirty work of the office was chucked on to me.
I once again fought the world war to get into the bus and reached home by 10 at night, too tired to even change my clothes and eat. I hopped into my room tiredly and fell on the soft bed, thinking of doing something that I was planning to do since the last few months. I will talk to them tomorrow about it, I promised myself before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Last night was one of the rare nights I felt like a real writer. There was a full house at the small theater for my official book release and people actually lined up to buy and have me sign their books. I still kind of don’t believe it.
This is music to my ears. Congratulations! I love knowing about an author’s success. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations!
Thanks!
Every word I write contributes to my becoming a writer.
But, like you, Joe, I wear a lot of writing hats. Blogging. Freelancing. Journaling. Correspondence (email and, yes, with paper and postage). Even some website work.
Novel writing is what I always wanted to do, but that still looks a long way off. In the meantime, I’m learning everything I can about the craft through all the other writing jobs I do.
Thanks for sharing. Now I know I’m not the only one!
Is it ever too soon to start becoming a writer? Thank you for writing this. 🙂
Love, love, love this! You point to the reality that writing is an act of becoming. It’s a practice, a journey that leads us to unexpected, challenging and lovely places (both internally and externally). Thanks for the inspiring post.
I have worked so hard on trying to keep myself writing, even when I know no one will read it (like my journal entries). Still get “looks” when I tell people I’m retired and working on writing. Thanks for letting me read that it’s more complicated than people think!
Very interesting writing makes us to live with passion Dr.T.V.Rao MD Kollam
Every time I hear or read this ‘passion’ thing I turn and run. Passion is an unbalanced emotion. It is an extraordinary human being who is passionate and rational.
The Chinese saying has it accurately, ‘Don’t push the river’.