I Am Not A Writer

January 7, 2008 · Posted in Writing

(Originally posted on http://mcory.wordpress.com on 12/20/07)

In total contradiction of the epiphany I wrote of yesterday, I think I won’t call myself a writer. I actually received some comments on that post — a modestly rare occurrence — that incited quite a bit of thought last night. I have two reasons behind it, one admittedly a little petulant in it’s start, though I’ve since come to honestly agree with it, the other a bit more rational.

The first reason was most definitely inspired by the comments yesterday of Mr. Cliff Burns, particularly this:

“The terms ‘writer’ and ‘author’ confer status because we associate them with great artists and storytellers from down through the ages.”

There was much more to his comments, and I beseech you to read through them — he does make decent points. Regardless, this particular sentence stood out in my mind. It’s very true, what he says, and I can completely understand that trying to associate one’s self with the likes of all the great writers of the past is quite wrong.

That much I could live with though, as I wouldn’t feel as if I were putting myself on the same level as Poe or Melville or Steinbeck or anyone. There are also, however, quite a large number of writers in this world who do have the arrogance I spoke of yesterday, that “you can’t call yourself a writer because <blah>.” By calling myself a writer, true, I’m associating myself with some of the greatest names in history; however, I’m also associating myself with the likes of those people who have too much pride to let anyone else into the little clique.

And, by the definition I’d given yesterday, I’d also be associating myself with people like Hitler (who actually has published more than many who call themselves writers, myself included), and I’m sure quite a few others who no one would ever want to be clumped in with under the same title.

(Yes, you may cry Godwin’s Law)

That’s my petty, immature “inner child” talking. I don’t like him much, but sometimes I can’t control him. Well, I could, but sometimes it’s just more fun to let him take the reigns. The second reason I hope you’ll find less childish.

What is the point of calling one’s self a writer? There is no practical reason, regardless of whether one is worthy of the title or not. It’s purely psychological, giving yourself an identity of any kind. I say this not in terms of profession, as calling yourself a writer has marketing potential behind it (”marketing” might be a bit of a strong word for what I mean, but I hope you get the point).

If I call myself a writer, all it does is make me feel better about myself. It gives me a little psychological foundation to stand on so I can get through the day, since that’s something that I want — I want to make my living by writing, I want to study the craft, I want to get that thrill from bringing a story to the close I’d had in mind on a daily basis.

What I call myself has no bearing on any of that. Calling myself a writer does not give me a pen to write with (or a keyboard, as is most often my case). Calling myself a writer does not in itself give me that thrill I desire. If I wrote for the next twenty years, calling myself a writer would still give no benefit to my life.. None of that is related to what I call myself in the slightest.

In fact, what I call myself — whether it’s “writer” or something less controversial — has absolutely no bearing on the world anyways. I am me, not some label I decide to give myself, or that someone else decides to give me.

I am not a writer. I am a person who writes, and who loves writing. Likewise, I am not a software developer; I am a person who writes computer programs and websites, and enjoys it sometimes. I am not a musician, I’m a person who plays piano and writes music sometimes.

Right now, I’m a person who needs to get out and have his cigarette so he can get ready for work.