As writers (or aspirants), we often find ourselves grappling with the question of when we can ourselves writers. After all, the title of “writer” seems to carry a certain air of sophistication and intellectualism that most of us don’t feel we have earned. I’ve often been asked what I do and backed out of saying I’m a writer. Or worse, someone introduces me as a writer, and I immediately feel like a fraud. But maybe that’s the level of self-loathing and doubt seen as an essential quality in a creative writer.
Even now, writing this article, I don’t feel comfortable calling myself a writer. It feels like there should be levels. Being called a writer should be ‘black belt’ status, and right now, I’m wearing a purple or red belt. I would feel much more comfortable being called a writer, private 2nd class, or writer, thrice removed. But that’s not how it works, you’re either a writer or a not.
So, when is the moment when we can officially embrace the title? Is it after we’ve written our first poem? Penned our first complete story exceeding 30 pages? Or not until we’ve been published or performed by people deemed professionals?
Scribbling and Dreaming
In the beginning, there were words – words scribbled in the margins of textbooks, fervent late-night journal entries, and perhaps a few angsty teenage poems (let’s not talk about those). Is this the moment when we can call ourselves writers? Or does the title come with something more substantial, like when we’ve accumulated a sizable stack of filled notebooks, written our first meandering short stories, or completed our first play or novella (regardless of its quality or reception)?
The truth is, the title of “writer” is not about how many words you’ve penned or how many pages you’ve filled. It’s about the drive, the passion, and the dedication to the craft that fuels you to keep putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Those awful and embarrassing first stories aren’t what make us a writer; it’s the fact we keep going in the hope the next one will be better.
Perhaps at the scribbling and dreaming stage, it would be a bit premature to call ourselves a writer. At that stage, writing is likely one of many fantasies and potential career roads we want to follow. It’s once those other dreams have faded, shot down by reality, and the journey of becoming a (paid!) writer is what we still follow, then at that stage, we should start to feel more comfortable wearing the label.
Can a writer write for themself?
Of course, writing for yourself is still the act of writing, and one is still a writer. But are you really? If you write something and no one reads or hears it, does it count? For me, a writer can only exist with a reader/audience. Many writers will argue that the only write for themselves, but that usually seems like a statement to make us feel less selfish and self-centred. At the heart of every good piece of writing (and most of the bad stuff), is the writer, and we can feel a sense of selfishness if we look at it in that way. But essentially, a piece of writing can only exist if it is in some way communicated to another person. I would argue without those words being read or heard by someone other than the person who wrote them down, they are essential lines and shapes. A writer needs a reader, even if only one.
This is all a bit silly as I’ve never met anyone who claimed to be a writer but never allowed anyone to see their work. But it outlines the important step of sharing your writing. Having people judge your words. This is an important step in feeling comfortable with the title. Not all of your work will be well received. Honest feedback will sometimes be highly critical and, at times, rightly so. In accepting feedback and being open to judgement and evaluation, we face our first test. Continuing to write and hone your craft after all the negative (and hopefully, positive) receptions is where we earn our stripes.
The “Published” Milestone
Perhaps the most significant milestone for many aspiring writers is the moment when their work is published. Whether in a prestigious literary journal, an up-and-coming online magazine, or even the local newspaper, seeing your name in print can feel like the ultimate validation of your writerly status. So, does getting published mean you can finally call yourself a writer?
The simple answer is yes – and no. While being published is a significant achievement, it doesn’t automatically grant you the title of “writer.” After all, being a writer is about more than just having your work appear in print. It’s about the passion, the dedication, and the love for the craft that keeps you writing even when the rejections pile up and the odds seem stacked against you.
In other words, being a writer is not about the accolades, the bylines, or even the royalties (though those are undoubtedly nice perks). It’s about the journey, the growth, and the unwavering belief in your own ability to create something meaningful with words.
The Winning Goal
In the end, the question of when you can call yourself a writer is a deeply personal one. It’s akin to asking when one can call themselves a footballer. Is it when you score the winning goal for Manchester United and get your first England cap? Is it when you gain your first professional contract? Isn’t someone who plays for the local pub team on the bobbly common every Sunday also a footballer?
OK, kicking a plastic ball around in the garden with your 5-year-old nephew might not quite give you the credentials to write ‘footballer’ on your Twitter bio, but if you love football, you fantasize about acts of skill and flair, you have little chance of ever achieving, and every frost-bitten Sunday morning in December you lace up on your PUMA Kings and slip on the jersey of the Hare N’ Duck, you sir, are a footballer in my books.
So, when can you call yourself a writer? If you’re passionate about the written word, have the desire to share your thoughts and stories with others, and are willing to put in the time and effort to hone your craft, then you have every right to call yourself a writer – published or not, acclaimed or undiscovered. After all, it’s not about the destination, but the journey and the love for the game, or in this case, the love for writing, that truly makes one a writer.
