WAKE UP AND WRITE
When Can You Call Yourself a Writer?
You can call yourself a writer, when you’re doing the work
Wake Up and Write is a regular advice column from Moms Don’t Have Time to Write. Today, we have Raven Leilani — author of the novel Luster — who shared writing advice on the podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, hosted by Zibby Owens.
“As long as you are putting in the work, you are a writer.”
“A common concern that I have mulled over, one that I know a lot of writers think about, is: when can I call myself a writer? I think you call yourself a writer because you’re doing the work, because you’re actively working on your craft.
It is really wonderful to receive affirmation and validation and acceptance from a literary journal. But I do think that, for me at least, those moments were rare. Much more of the process was about doing that private work and trying to figure out what worked and what would stick.
I feel like the private work is the meaningful work. As long as you are putting in the work, then you are a writer. As long as you’re working on that craft, you are a writer. That’s what I would say.”
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