Im a stay at home mother and in my own mind a writer, as i haven't been published though i feel like a fraud telling people that i write. Most of my time is taken up with the children but i do find a lot of time of a night to write and i feel like this is my job as i am working towards getting published and my husband is extremely supportive. However i don't really have the guts to say I'm a writer. Do any of you declare it?
Yes. I consider writing to be a major part of my identity and I don't withhold that from anyone. A runner isn't only considered such when they cross the finish line; they are the minute they start moving their legs towards it. If you write regularly and purposefully, then you're a writer. Plain and simple. I'm in very much the same position, but I consider myself a WAHM because I'm investing my time in something I intend to profit from in the future.
A writer is someone who writes. Simple as that. I have told a few people about my WIP. I do not think I have ever voluntarily called myself a writer -- I simply have not encountered the context to describe myself, being too busy describing things far more interesting than myself. Except on forums where we ourselves are the topic. But if someone called me a writer, then I would agree. One big thing for me is that I did not decide to become a writer and then look for something to write about. Instead, something found me, it convinced me to write about it, and I discovered that I was becoming a writer by definition. By contrast, I decided to become a software developer, so I am going to school to become one. Then I will look for jobs and open source projects.
This is only my opinion but you're only a writer if others think of you as that. Your opinion is besides the point. I may think myself a genius , a supermodel or an arsehole. Though others may think of me as being only one of those three, and therefore they would be correct. A writer is not someone who writes but someone who, in the opinion of enough people, writes well.
Yes, I do. And when they ask me what I write, I tell them my book titles and where to get them. In saying that, I didn't call myself a writer before I published. (not sure why). It wasn't until I emailed a friend of mine to tell her my first book was live and available that I asked "does this mean I'm a writer now?" She emailed me back with the words, "No, it means you're an author." But like @Berber says, if you actively write, then you are a writer!
There is in the UK an official tier system in operation. Most proper writers are quite suitably aware of the classifications: v2 NO writer A blog 'Writing' magazine published. Community Press Fantasy New Writing North Supermarket book Poor people Illiterate YES writer The Guardian Myslexia The Literary Review/Spectator Historical Fiction New Writing South Oxford Poetry Anthology BBC Snow family Radio 4
I personally consider that when someone calls themselves a writer they are naming their profession, as in they are getting paid or living off of writing. Unfortunately, I find that when someone calls themselves a writer they get kinda wrongly judged. How many people call themselves writers, artists, musicians, or film makers who don't have any footing in their spoken field yet. Writing is my hobby until it is helping to pay for my bills, then I'm a writer. I love writing and have a passion for it, but that's how I personally classify it.
If I fix a leaky faucet that doesn't make me a plumber. Of course writing is much more complex than plumbing. I like my dictionary's definition: "One who writes, esp. as an occupation or profession; author." However I personally think the OP qualifies on the basis that it is a major part of her life. I don't think I will ever be a writer IMO based on my lack of full commitment to it. I admire the commitment shown in many of the members here even if they have not published, to me they are all writers.
Me too, simple as that. Though a friend of mine likes using a sentence "yea, he's a writer." I always feel a bit shy and weird when he says that. But I would be a liar if I said it isn't flattering.
Maybe that's because most writers/authors are said to be shy and retiring because, lets face it, writing can be a very lonely and sometimes cruel mistress. Which is why some writers don't do well at self-promotion, standing on the rooftops and screaming about your work is not something writers are comfortable with.
I tell them I'm a Russian sleeper agent flying ninja with ties to the Columbian snow-trade and a sprawling Balinese style home in Beijing replete with scantily clad, stunningly beautiful men (Bond Girl analogues) where I chillax when Interpol starts sniffing around. When they give me the WTF? face I say, "I'm a writer, silly."
I haven't. I'm a proud SAHM and if someone asks what I do I'll say exactly that. Or domestic engineer if I get "that look" that implies my life is so easy and I must do nothing but veg and pamper myself all day. To those closest to me, they know that I write and aspire to be a published author someday but it's not a title I'd give myself to strangers or acquaintances because, at the moment, it's a hobby and only worth something to me.
People's opinion should have nothing to do with it! If you steadfastly believe you're a writer, then you're a writer. Perhaps not an author but a writer! I would declare myself a great many of things because I practise them and I love them! Opinions are trivial in this. If someone asked you: "Hey, what's your job?" then I would say what I was being paid to do, but other than that... ...you're a writer through and through!
I think my personality actually veers towards the actor side more than the writer side, having met with stage actors in acting workshops as well as writers in writers' meetups. Anyway, I still suck at marketing lol. Re the OP - yes, I do call myself a writer. No, it doesn't pay the bills. No, I haven't had a book published. But I write almost everyday and it's the only thing I actually KNOW. There're many things I'm good at, but only in writing do I feel I actually know any of the techniques and nuances and can do pretty much whatever I want. I started calling myself a writer a little while after I started working on my first novel in earnest. I feel my hard work has earned me the title. I'm also the sort who takes the term "writer" as an identity and not a profession - my profession is a teacher. So I tell people I teach English. But I don't like to say I'm a teacher because that would imply I knew what I was doing (half the time I honestly don't, but I'm getting better - I'm not formally qualified). I'm not actually sure if I've ever said "I'm a writer" out loud to anyone though lol. I definitely think of myself as such though.
Wanker is an agent noun for someone who wanks - which is probably everyone, but I don't call everyone a wanker.
I grant your cleverness avoiding the question, but I am still interested in your answer: what do you use as an agent noun for "write" in the same way that "driver" is an agent noun for "drive", "typist" is an agent noun for "type", "listener" is an agent noun for "listen", etc.?
Are you going to tell Michael Jordan you're a basketball player because you like to play on weekends with your friends? (I'm assuming you're not Obama.)
