photo by Gafoto
When people ask me, “What do you do?” I have never once answered, “I’m a writer.” As much as I would love to think that was an appropriate answer, it just sounds silly to me to really think that I could say it to someone. It feels like I would be lying.
Instead, I say things like I’m a homeschooling Mom. Or, I might even mention that I’m a therapist part time for kids with delays and disabilities. I never even offer up that I’m a blogger, although I like the sound of saying that I’m a writer even better.
I began to think about this while I was at Savvy Blogging Summit, when Megan from Half-Pint House shared with us that she tells people she is a writer and that she was going to a conference for writers. I couldn’t help but admit, “Yeah, that’s true. We’re writers.”
I recently received a copy of Stories for the Homeschool Heart in the mail. I received this copy because I have a story published in it. This is actually the second time that I have been published in a book, though the first time is in a long since out of print sociology textbook (I co-wrote a chapter).
Being published for a second time again had me thinking, “Am I a writer?”
I definitely write on my blog, and have for the past (almost) four years. And, while I don’t make enough to buy a car with my blog or to quit my therapy, I definitely make enough to buy us school books we want from time to time or take us out to dinner. (Well, and enough to pay for some web design and a trip to Colorado, although the trip to Colorado was sponsored specifically.)
But then again, does a writer have to be making any money on it to be a writer? Do they have to be published? Does it actually matter to anyone except me what I consider myself?
So, what are you? Are you a writer? Are you a blogger? Are you both? Are you neither?
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
It certainly sounds to me like you are a writer. (I don’t think anyone these days has only one profession. We all wear many hats. On some days, maybe every day for part of the day, you wear the writer’s hat, so that would make you a writer, in my book.)
Yes, you are! When I began freelancing and writing fiction (way back before I had a blog), I struggled with this. But I learned the hard way that you have to claim the title for yourself, and that will open up all sorts of new doors for you. I was told by others also that even if you don’t yet make a dime from your writing, you have to make “I am a writer,” your own personal mantra. Once you get used to that, then you get to throw the word “GREAT” in there.
Michelle´s last [type] ..Our First Big Field Trip
Writers write.
You write? You’re a writer. If anyone says, “Oh, do you have anything published?” You answer, “I sure do.” And mention the story in the homeschooling book. (Congrats!) And your work here and the Homeschool Classroom, etc. You write all the time, Angie. And lots of us love reading your writing. (I rarely comment because I never feel like I have much to contribute. LOL But I read ya.)
Calling yourself a “writer” feels awkward, though, I know. It’s like telling people that you’re a professional unicorn rider. Or in charge of the colors of the rainbow. It seems something out of the ordinary to do. I was just telling my husband how, when people ask me what I do for a living and I say, “I’m a writer and an editor” that most people just look a little perplexed. Kind of like “Oh, don’t we outgrow that urge after high school?”
Some of us don’t. We write because we have to. And this urge, this creative impulse, really is a gift from the Lord. He gives some people the desire to draw or to sing or play sports or sew or cook well or this or that. We happen to have the writing gift. And praise God for it.
Write on, Angie. Write on!
Veronica Maria´s last [type] ..Reminder- Prayer Campaign to Protect Unborn Children begins Sept 29
@Veronica Maria,
Oh man! I am SO glad that I had swallowed the bite of banana I was eating right before I got to the “professional unicorn rider” part. Bwahahaha! Love it!
Did I mention writers are also a little, uhm, nutty? Yeaaaaah. That’s probably obvious.
I’d like to get that on a T-shirt: Professional Unicorn Rider. You know it has to be pink and sparkly, too. With an iron-on decal.
Hee.
Veronica Maria´s last [type] ..Reminder- Prayer Campaign to Protect Unborn Children begins Sept 29
If you have a passion for writing and you write, then you’re a writer, even if you’ve never been published! Although I’m with you, I certainly never claim to be one
But even when I was working part time running a sports club from home, I always just said I was a stay at home mom, because that is the majority of my life.
I think it comes down to how you define yourself. I know it’s not very modern of me, but I still think of myself as my husband’s wife and my kids’ mom. But if I did finish my book and get it published, I wonder if I would start saying it out loud all the time? Lol.
Angela @ Homegrown Mom´s last [type] ..Some New Old Posts
@Angela @ Homegrown Mom,
I don’t think it’s old fashioned at all to think of yourself as first a wife and mother. As I mentioned, the first thing I always tell people when they ask what I do is that I stay at home with my kids and homeschool them. Although, as my Church would teach me, my vocation is marriage and my role as a mother comes out of that. So, I guess I should tell people my job is to be my husband’s wife. (And, whew — what a big job that is. LOL Just joking, of course.)
The whole issue of who we are and how we define ourselves with or without the work we do is such an interesting one. I taught part-time for years and years at the college-level. When people would ask me what I do, I would share with them first about teaching and then that I’m a homeschool mom. When I quit working completely, I would follow-up my explanation of being a stay-at-home homeschooling mom with, “I used to teach part-time.”
I’m not sure exactly when I stopped giving any explanations what-so-ever for what I do but I just don’t anymore. At a new doctor’s office, I was asked last week (as part of the paperwork the receptionist was filling out), “Do you work?’ I simply said, NO.
I consider myself now in so many different roles, I find it easiest to just say, “No, I don’t work.” But, of course, I do. I just don’t feel the need to rationalize my existence for the purpose of paperwork anymore. Although, I do love the idea of saying that I’m in charge of the rainbow. And a professional unicorn rider.
Regarding the writer question, yes, you are definitely a writer. I’m a writer too. I’ve been published as well but I never think of those academic journal articles when I think of my own writing. I think of the writing that I’m doing now on my blog and other sites.
Payment – I think there are many forms of payment. Even though I don’t receive any monetary compensation, I consider myself richly paid every time another homeschooling mother leaves a comment and lets me know that my article helped her, encouraged her, or gave her a good idea. In particular, I love to encourage new homeschooling mothers. I feel like I’m giving back a bit for all of the support and encouragement that’s been given to me over the years.
Samantha
Samantha´s last [type] ..Giant Collage Letters for Preschool Posted at The Homeschool Classroom
Yes, you are a writer. And I am too. A writer is one who writes. And I would add that it’s one who enjoys writing and has some skill at it. We qualify.
It has nothing to do with being a professional IE getting paid. I am a cook, but no one pays me to do that. And I’ve printed out the pumpkin cake you linked. I need to find a substitute for cake mix, and I’m ON it.
jimmie´s last [type] ..Jacob Lawrence Artist Study
Blogger? Yes. Writer? Absolutely not. If I could find a way to post ONLY pictures and no words I would totally do it. Although I think my blog is as close to that as I can get. But I know what you’re saying about the ‘writer’ thing. It took me a long time to self proclaim myself as an “artist”. Because usually artists are really weird. Even being an art major wasn’t enough for me to put the title on myself. I thought I am a regular person who likes to create art. But anywho, I totally say I’m an artist now. Even if these days I use more finger paints than oil paints
Lacy @ Catholic Icing´s last [type] ..Jerusalem Cross Craft