How to Be Fearless When Introducing Yourself as a Writer
It’s time to say it like you mean it
Why is it so awkward to tell your friends or newly-formed acquaintances that you’re a writer, or that you simply enjoy writing?
I mean, how many times have you encountered a conversation that goes something along the lines of:
“What are your hobbies?”
“I quite like writing.”
“Oh, like writing emails?”
*Sigh*
No matter how much you wish to walk away from such instances slapping your palm across your forehead, unfortunately, the fault is entirely yours.
You deliberately kept your answer vague, assuming this will act as an invitation for others to inquire further about your writings. And guess what, your plan flopped.
But think about it for a second, how is your audience meant to learn more about your interests if they’ve got no idea what you’re talking about, to begin with? After all, writing isn’t the most common of hobbies out there…
How to Put an End to Those Long Awkward Silences
We, as both part-time and full-time writers, need to realise that a large majority of the people we encounter in our daily lives often don’t fully understand what it means to be a writer.
According to some, you’re either a published author, or you keep a diary. Or in some cases, you enjoy writing emails.
But there’s a way to get around such moments of awkwardness — and that’s simply to be upfront about what it is you write about. A little specificity goes a long way.
For example, you could say, “I write articles online around the topics of personal growth and leadership.” Or even, “I spend most of my time blogging about fashion, but I’m also in the process of drafting my first book”.
How you describe yourself will eventually determine the reaction and conversation that follows. Be vague and you’ll get an unenthused reaction. Be specific and you’ve given your audience something to work with.
Positive Body Language Is Immensely Underrated
Peter Drucker once said,
“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”
While what you say about your writing journey matters, how you say it plays an even more significant role.
Do you smile when you tell your friends about the novel you’re working on? Or do you slouch your upper body and convey an image of being tired and overworked?
Are you enthusiastic about your writing, or do you make it sound like it’s a nuisance?
Put simply, humans intrinsically pick up the signals you send them. If you come across as bored out of your mind, then chances are, you’re boring the other person too. And eventually, your writing will become boring. You wouldn’t want that to happen now, would you?
Positivity when talking about your writing — both through your choice of words and via your body language — will certainly take your writing places.
But Always Be Ready to Move On
Even after applying the above, you might still encounter instances where your words and your enthusiasm are simply inadequate. You’re specific about what you write about, and you’re energetic when conversing, but all you get back is “Oh…sounds good. So how was your weekend?”
And friends, that’s okay too.
You can’t please everyone in this world. And equally, you can’t force others to be interested in everything about you. Faraaz Kazi once said,
“The most difficult aspect of moving on is accepting that the other person already did.”
Learn to move on from those uneasy conversations about being a writer. And never let the awkwardness get to you by questioning your abilities or doubting what you’re passionate about — all because someone else doesn’t share those same passions with you.
A Final Thought
It takes dedication and commitment to discover an interest in writing and to act on it in a meaningful way. Don’t downplay the effort you’ve put in, either through this platform or elsewhere.
You’ve worked hard to establish yourself as a writer. And you’ve earned the right to call yourself one. Now it’s time to start saying it like you mean it.
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