My daughter was drawing--as she ALWAYS is, whenever I'm not on her case to do her homework, clean her room, or practice her flute--and my son wandered over to share her art supplies and do a bit of his own.
"I love to draw," she said. Then, eager to one-up my son, she said, "You don't love to draw, though. You're not an artist like me."
My son didn't correct her. He said, casually, "No, that's because I'm a writer."
I was stunned. Here he was, seven year of age, and he already felt he could call himself a writer.
I'm 41, yet even though I've published a doctorate and a book of ghost stories, have had a handful of my own plays performed, and have worked on writing nearly my entire life, I still have great difficulty calling myself a writer.
But this is the end of it. No more. My mantra is final: I am a writer.
I'm a writer. I write. I go a bit nutty when I don't write. I LOVE writing.
I've been working hard on writing lately, too. I completed my list of agents for The Ghost Portal, and I'm days away from beginning my revision of my third novel. I've read through two fellow writers' novels over that last week, I've planned out a children's book, and I'm waffling between participating in NaNoWriMo or PiBoIdMo--though I'm leaning towards doing BOTH.
Why? Because I'm a writer. I'm a writer, I'm a writer, I'm a writer.
I'm a writer. A real, bona fide writer. How about you?
I thought I was. I guess I am just a reader. Takes both, though. :)
ReplyDeleteOH Shakes, I can honestly relate to what you have said here. I first picked up a pencil to write poetry when I was something like 14. I have never stopped in all the intervening years. Yet until 10 years or so ago I never kept any of it but I kept on writing poetry because it seemed to be the one thing in my life I was meant to do. Yet all those years I was never comfortable answering the question, "What do you do?" with "I am a poet." It felt fake, or like not quite the right answer.
ReplyDeleteNow without a flinch of internal skepticism or a wink and a nod I say proudly I am a poet. I can fix cars and plumbing, run electrical wiring and usually listen without condemnation to a persons regrets but that is simply how I spend part of my day.
I am a poet and you, yes my friend, are a writer beyond knowing where to put the periods and comma's. You write even these blog posts with your heart and that is why you are a writer and not just someone who puts words down on a paper. It is in the heart.
mark--you know the one who writes--poetry.
I'm a writer. I'm not an author, not yet, but I'm definitely a writer.
ReplyDeleteAwww! That gave me chills. As a kid, I was an artist. As an adult, I am a writer. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you not a writer, Relax Max?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Walking Man. I consider you the poet voice of Detroit, and I'm grateful to have your expression so close to me.
Stephanie, you've already had stories published. That makes you an author. Sorry, but it does. No going back now.
And Peggy, a writer is an artist of words. It sounds like you've been an artist all along.
Oooh, and everyone, I'm maybe a day away from sending out my first query! Wish me luck!
Then I can get to this third novel of mine, which is in desperate need of revising, too.
Sure you're a writer. Did you think you weren't? Your kids may change their minds many times before they're grown. It doesn't bother them.
ReplyDeleteYou know, when I first started giving my profession (I was being paid for it) as a writer, I got used to the gap between what I'd just said and their response. I guess I just don't look like a writer. (grin)
ReplyDelete"I'm a Writer" nice writer
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