Can you use this phrase, yet? When someone asks what you do, can you respond by saying, “I’m a writer,” or do the words stick in your throat?
Maybe you aren’t writing full-time, so it doesn’t seem right to claim writing as your profession.
So, at what point will you be able to accept the label, “writer?”
For me, it was after I sold my first few articles and a publisher accepted my first book. However, I know people who introduce themselves as authors as soon as they decide to write a book.
Twice, recently, someone asked me what I do. While I’ve been earning my living through writing-related endeavors for decades, I must say that I felt a need to explain myself when I responded, “I’m a writer.”
Think about it; I remember when I didn’t know another serious, career writer. Today, everyone is writing a book. Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, you weren’t taken seriously as a writer because no one, except the big name authors, were considered legitimate. Today, you aren’t taken seriously as a writer because everyone is writing something.
When I responded recently by saying “I’m a writer,” I felt compelled to add, “I actually have carved out a 35-year career for myself in the writing field.”
I needed to justify my claim to show that I am a writer in every sense of the word and I’m not just another person who has suddenly decided to write his memoirs. I needed this person to know that I am the real deal—whatever that is.
But then, this has been career-long issue—trying to get others to understand that I don’t just sit down and write when the mood strikes, I write for a living. And, “No,” my name might not be familiar to you—you’ve probably never read anything I have written.
And now my career isn’t only about writing. It has evolved into a publishing company that’s responsible for producing over a dozen books. It is a virtual bookstore that sells books on a variety of topics. It is a consulting firm where writers and authors can come for assistance and guidance. It is an editorial service as well as a virtual classroom and a source of presentations for freelance writers and authors. On top of this, I have offered my services as a working officer in SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) for the past 13 years. But who, other than someone who desires my services cares about all this?
How do you view yourself within the world of creativity? Are you a serious writer/author? Do you consider yourself a professional in this field? Maybe you are just starting out, but you aspire to establish a writing career. Or maybe you are writing your first book—a memoir, a novel or a business book designed to promote your work, for example. Will you pursue this project as a professional or do you still view writing as a frivolous activity?
It has been my observation over the years that those who take the necessary steps toward publishing success (whether as an author or freelance writer), have a much greater success rate. And more of these folks can justifiably wear the title, writer or author.
For help in establishing your business model and achieving your publishing dreams, study some of my books. The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book or A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles, are two great choices. Check them out at:
http://www.matilijapress.com
Be sure to stop by and see the new SPAWN site. Sign up for the FREE SPAWN monthly newsletter and receive a FREE copy of our new ebooklet, Promote Yourself, 25 Ways to Promote Your Work Whether You’re an Author, Artist or Small Publisher.
http://www.spawn.org