Yes, You Are a Writer

There is almost certainly a writer in all of us. We all have the words -the life - the times and experiences. Perhaps what makes you a writer or not is the belief that its ok to put it on paper or screen rather than leave it roaming inside you , and perhaps the thought that its worth reading. Do we take the risk of it being over analysed by those more erudite than oursleves or do we go for it. Well in my case its one step at a time . I write it down then apologise for having written it. I know that I don't need to , but it acts as a self defence mechanism . Well - just do it. I feel better for having written it and for having read others' thoughts too. If you like what you have read I'm happy. If you don't - well sorry - I was kidding -I'm not a writer !!

"This distinction of who can wear the *label* of WRITER and who is disqualified from having that OH SO PRESTIGIOUS title is, in my humble opinion, another example of this same type of thing." Nothing more to be said.

<abbr>Ulla Hennig’s last blog post..Candles and Emotions</abbr>

You know this is very timely for me. Alex at Someday Syndrome just did an interview of me on his blog and it brought up memories of a time in my life when I was waiting for *permission* and justification from others to do what I believed was important for me.
This distinction of who can wear the *label* of WRITER and who is disqualified from having that OH SO PRESTIGIOUS title is, in my humble opinion, another example of this same type of thing. By telling children and adults that they are not good enough, or that they do not do the "right kind" of writing, is to limit and squelch budding talent.

Anyone who has the desire and the perserverence and the willingness to learn and work on improving their trade can find their own unique voice. And it won't sound like Sean's voice or mine or anyone else who dares to claim title to the word. It will be their own unique sound.

Are there some writers that are held in higher esteem? Sure. That doesn't mean the rest of us should give up. There is plenty of room for all the words that can ever be written.

And Vered...I LOVE your unique voice. I call you a writer.

If one has, is, or will have written, one may be a writer - but an author? I think that's different.

I feel for anyone who has felt driven by the need to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and release their inner narrative - it's frightening, lays one open to the scorn of others, makes one vulnerable to the - gasp - critic, and one's work will always be received by folks who view it subjectively, not objectively - it' all about personal taste, isn't it?

A poorly written entry, or blog, isn't as disappointing as a poorly written book, because it is more easily set aside, forgotten - and doesn't require a chunk of one's (rapidly shrinking) disposable income.

Frankly, that's why blog-writing has such appeal to people like me - we can write to our heart's content about whatever we like, and our readers come and go as they please, and it's all so easy going, isn't it? Much less risky to one's ego.

Blogging has certainly given some authors their voice, providing a place to hone their craft to a keen edge before leaping into the publishing waters (where they'll need that craft to fend off the sharks). Meanwhile, those of us unpublished on paper can have the satisfaction of knowing that people are returning to our words (one hopes) again and again - a vindication of sorts.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

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I'm enjoying this conversation.

For me, just saying outloud "I'm a writer" has caused a shift in me that makes me want to write and fill those shoes and be a writer. I am also a runner. I won't ever win Boston but I'm a runner anyway. Saying the words "I'm a runner" gets me out each day hitting the pavement in my running shoes. Saying "I'm a writer" makes me want to write every day. Words are powerful and sometimes the label of writer is all one needs to gain that confidence and move forward to become what they have a passion for. Sean is right, we are all writers if we want to be.

<abbr>Emily@remodelingthislife’s last blog post..Link Love: Baby, It’s Cold Outside Edition</abbr>

Ron: You're absolutely right, it's voice which separates the good from the great and the maybe wills from the never evers. You are also correct, I believe, that for someone it is labor while for others it is instinct.

Angela: True that, Angela and right on! The available tools and technology make today's world a world where anyone can by a writer. The link to Haley is great as well, by the way. You're 100%.

Dave: Great writing, reduced to its lowest fraction, is about excellent communication. Some people who can barely string a sentence together are excellent writers. Sometimes the reverse is true. People can write with precision, but can't necessarily articulate themselves verbally. Marshall Mathers is a good example. To hear the guy speak, you'd never have any idea he could draft an argument with the tip of an arrow.

Vered: Because you write well for the internet, you are a good writer. Kurt Cobain could barely link three chords together, then hook it with an engaging melody line, and probably couldn't have played Fur Elise if his life depended on it, didn't make him any less a musician. Millions loved his music. There are writers out there who have a wonderful way with words that are less read than yourself. You, my friend, are a writer.

Ruth: Vered did raise an interesting distinction. Poet, Novelist, Screenwriter, Copywriter, Blogger, etc. Still, all are writers.

I think Vered has brought up an interesting distinction. I'd see blogger as a sub-class of writer, like one might describe oneself as "poet," "novelist," etc. It's certainly a different style of writing from what you'd find in newspapers, novels, non-fiction books, etc. Blogging also allows for greater variation in the same place from the same person. Most other works require uniformity or internal consistency. A blog can be whatever it is.

<abbr>Ruth’s last blog post..Could I Get More Obsessed With My Own Life?</abbr>

Anyone can write. Not everyone can be a writer. Emily is certainly a writer and so are you, Sean. As for me, I often say I'm a blogger, not a writer, and I do believe there's an important difference. I write well for the internet and I'm proud of that. I'm proud of my ability to think up ideas and present them in a way that people on the internet relate and respond to. But I don't have a way with words the same way that you or Emily have. And that's OK.

<abbr>Vered - MomGrind’s last blog post..Breaking: Cosmo Magazine To Change Its Name</abbr>

It's tempting to get hung up on the idea of being or becoming a writer, but honestly, I think it’s sometimes more important to work on being a communicator first. You can be an effective and engaging communicator without necessarily being a good writer - but being the former might lead to becoming the latter.

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Sean-
I am proud to teach students, that they are writers. They have the power and the capability to share with another what they think, beleive, and understand about the world. As citizen journalist, they are not driven by fame and money ( unless they so choose to be) . We have the tools and the technology available for every voice, young or old, established or novice to be heard.

The audience makes the call. Writing in the 21st Century is impacted and influenced by audience not publisher. Let;s not limit ourselves and the future generation of writers by narrowing definitions and ultimately expectations. Look at what we would be missing- http://tinyurl.com/4dz6x8

Sean,

This is a very timely post given I've been struggling with this issue of late. Thanks for directing me over to Emily's site.

Yes, everyone is a writer within the context you've explained, but it's "voice" that gives them the honesty others can relate to. Some who are actual writers never find it because they try too hard, and some that are not writers find it without even knowing it.

Thanks

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Ari: I stand by my statement. Anyone willing to take the time to write each day is a writer. It doesn't mean they can make a living from the craft, nor does it mean they're any good, but the word writer is simply a person who writes. Professional writers don't own the label. My mom was by no means a professional chef, but when she made meals for our family six nights a week, she was most certainly the family cook. I teach a writer's workshop for a group of fourth graders once a week. Some of their writing is barely legible, yet I tell each of them that any of them that are willing can indeed become writers. It is amazing the progress some of them have seen in only three weeks. The only change is that someone told them to believe.

Mike: Not everyone can get published or even make a living, but anyone who is willing to write each and every day is no doubt a writer. Being a writer means you write. It doesn't mean your famous. Success for some might be as simple as the spilling of thoughts onto the page or screen, an action not owned by the top tier of wordsmiths. It took me a long time to get comfortable with the label of "writer." A year and a half later, and I finally understand how ridiculous that was.

Matthew: It made me laugh as well. It isn't a matter of how articulate you are, in my opinion, it's a matter of how willing you are to take the time to put your thoughts upon the page.

Chasing Sanity: "I would say that anyone can be a writer, but not everyone can write well." Thank you for saying it so much better than I.

Emily: I would say a good writer is someone who writes well and a great writer is someone whose words might find themselves fixed in forever. A writer, however, is simply someone who writes.

Eric: "if we’re not speaking of making a living, truly ANYONE can be a writer" Chasing Sanity and Eric get bonus points for nailing it with precision.

Ruth: No doubt about it Ruth - You're a writer and a half, and I'm sure a helluva cook to boot!

I think it's hard for some bloggers to call themselves writers. Yet, what is a blog except a lot of writing? Whether or not they earn money, most bloggers have a tremendous output.

I'd say that most people have it within them to be writers. There are writers with better skills and people who need a lot more practice. There are writers who will never be good writers. There are people who are great at narrative and others who are good at conveying dry facts quickly and efficiently.

I think the first couple comments put too limiting a definition on writer (or cook, in one). Who gets to decide if you're a writer or a cook? Am I not a cook because I don't have a culinary degree? Since we never eat out, I cook every night's dinner (not dinner every night, though, because there are leftovers). I'm certainly the cook in the family. Am I not a writer because I've never written anything longer than a short-story? Never had more than a few poems published? What about 8 years of blogging, over a thousand posts on various blogs? Doesn't mean I'm a good writer or a professional writer, but I'm sure as hell a writer! ;)

<abbr>Ruth’s last blog post..Could I Get More Obsessed With My Own Life?</abbr>

It certainly DOES all come down to the definition, of course. If you mean writer, as in making money creating written content, then of course not everyone can do this. But just like painting, who's to say what is good and what isn't. Any of the arts can be seen as good or bad by an individual. Sure, there's a common rule of thumb for grading such work, but if we're not speaking of making a living, truly ANYONE can be a writer. Eric

<abbr>Eric Hamm’s last blog post..Minimize Your ‘Focus Reboots’</abbr>

Hey Sean - wow, I haven't even picked my jaw up off the floor yet after reading this. Thank you.

I believe anyone can be a writer who has a passion for it and works at it. I don't believe there are accidental writers.

I think it's unfair to say one is only a writer if they earn money for it. It would also be unfair to say that someone is a writer simply because they are a blogger. To me, a writer is someone who writes well. The hard part for me is trusting that I write well and am therefore a writer. The trust is the part that will bring success.

Interesting discussion!

<abbr>Emily@remodelingthislife’s last blog post..Link Love: Baby, It’s Cold Outside Edition</abbr>

Previous philosophical writings by fellows such as Ludwig Wittgenstein have rendered discussions like the comments above senseless (no offense). These fellows essentially "killed" traditional philosophy, because they pointed out that what was really being debated was merely definitions of terms, much like what's happening above. What does one mean by "writer"? Define it and then you'll have an easier time answering the question.

I remember discussing this subject way back in college Creative Writing classes, and the definition we used then was someone that makes a living off his/her writing. If we use a more basic definition, anyone that writes is a writer.

Using the latter definition, I would say that anyone can be a writer, but not everyone can write well.

Looking at the couple of comments above...I'm on the fence on this subject.

I think that most everyone can tell a story. Whether or not they can articulate the words on paper is a whole other ballgame. On the flip side, there are many, many people who can put words together - but can't tell a story.

Being a writer in today's world is no different than it was a few hundred years ago...but instead of "Oh, he doth fancy himself a writer?", it is: "So he's a blogger than?"

Sorry, it made me laugh.

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I, too, have to disagree. Most people can write, but very few can be a writer.

I would also go so far as to say that, while most of the people we know can probably write somewhat sensibly, there are others out there that hopelessly mangle whatever they put down. As an instructor in industry, I worked with a couple of guys like that whose job included writing technical training manuals.

Still others can't even do that. My 77 year old dad is hard pressed to hand write a very short note every year for Christmas.

And, unfortunately, in this richest country in the world, there are those who are functionally illiterate, including many who actually graduated from our public education systems.

So far as being a writer, when I went back to college as a non-traditional student, my freshman English professor told me that I should be an English major. I held back and didn't tell her that I couldn't take the pay cut.

There are many who would like to be a writer, in my view, but few that can actually make the cut.

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I respectfully disagree. Everyone can write, but not everyone would call him or herself a writer.

By means of contrast, I enjoy buying fresh ingredients and cooking my own dinner, but I wouldn't call myself a COOK. I like to have a few drinks with friends at social gatherings, but I wouldn't describe myself as a DRINKER.

Everyone can write. It's ingrained in us in elementary school, penning book reports and arithmetic examples. But everyone is not a writer.

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