take a chance

I think this profession is rife with that same problem.

In any other job you've got a paycheck or a shirt with the company logo to justify your employment. And it gives you a right to say: "I'm a teacher," "I'm an engineer," "I'm a doctor."

We work hard to get rejected. So it feels less validating to say, "I'm a writer" and have someone ask, "What have you written."

The answer is: LOTS OF STUFF, just you can't find it anywhere yet. Or you can find it in an obscure magazine. Yada yada yada.

I don't have any books out yet, but I'm a working columnist. I tell people I'm a writer.

You should too.

Congrats, Dan! Best wishes on it!

If a person writes, they're a writer.

Nicely done. I agree with Keith--if you write, you're a writer.

I remember when I was fresh out of design school trying to get a job, I talked to one of my instructors lamenting what to call myself when I was calling for interviews. Do I say I'm a design grad? A junior art director? An aspiring something?

He asked me, "what do you wanna do?"

"Um, I want to be an art director."

"Then say you're a f---ing art director!"

It worked.

Of course, after 15 years, I became a writer, but that's another story...

Reminds me of the joke:

I write a hundred articles and nobody calls me Tony the Writer. I go down on ONE little boy and EVERYBODY calls me.....

.....Michael Jackson!

I was really shy about saying I was a writer before I got published. What gets published now is freelance articles, but because of them I feel comfortable saying that I'm a writer and that in addition to my freelance stuff I'm working on a novel.

I think that because so many people try their hands at writing or believe they could write if they wanted to/had time, you don't really get taken seriously as a writer until you've had at least a little success.

I still don't like doing it, even though, at least until next summer, writing is my only job.

I feel a bit...square when I say it. Don't know why. When I have told people, the results have run the gamut. I've gotten no response, I've gotten "Wow, I've always wanted to write a novel!," I've gotten "Yeah? That's cool."

But OVERWHELMINGLY, the response I've gotten (and it ain't even close) when I even mention my novel is, "Do I get an autographed copy?" I've heard that a hundred times, from relatives on down to strangers in the supermarket. I've heard that from people who I know are eager to read the book, and from people who admittedly hate reading. Don't know what it is about those autographed copies, but people seem to want one.

I'm uncomfortable saying I'm a writer. Last week though, I had my meeting with my tutor for Legal History about a research essay I have to write, and somehow the conversation strayed from medieval law onto the English Civil War (I think via witchcraft) and before I knew what I was doing, I actually admitted to having an interest in the period because I wrote. I was waiting to get a tirade about wasting my time on stuff that wasn't going to be marked towards my degree.

Turned out my tutor had a thing for historical fiction and had been working on an idea based on English Legal History, only to find out that C J Sansom was writing practically the identical idea into his books, so he's now looking at a different concept. And the last half of the meeting devolved into a discussion of plot ideas and which were the best historical mystery novels out there.

That kind of made up for the reaction I usually get from my family when I slip up and mention writing - that 'oh, have you not grown out of that nonsense yet' reaction.

Well done, Straka! You're an inspiration. I'm going to make a little goal for myself: To announce "I'm a writer!" to at least one person a week. And I promise it won't be my mom every time...

Straka said:

The agent, who handles more self-help books took my ten page Sci/fi synopsis and sent it to a friend. He came back with comments and she suggested an agent for me. Then she told me who the reader was, Lou Aronica.

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I'm congratulating you on this last part. Lou's seen the biz from both sides, so if he saw potential in your work -- pat yourself on the back and then get your ass in the chair and work harder.

You know what I find? People have huge expectations from you when you say you are a writer. It's this magical unattainable thing to non-writers. It's so odd. Sometimes the reply is actually shrill. "You're a what!! Oh my God, he's a writer." The room goes quiet. Passive aggressive smiles abound. They look at your wrists and your eyes for tell tale signs of insanity. They grab their wine glasses tighter as though you are going to run around the room stealing all the booze. They grab their purses closer to themselves. "Something wicked this way comes. What pray tell!? A writer. Oh my God!"

Ummm. Well. Maybe not. Maybe they just don't give a shit. Maybe they are painful smiles of sympathetic wisdom. "Poor dolt will go crazier than a bat in a vat of wax. Writer, indeed!"

I am a writer.


Clear the room.


It's kind of like farting at a party, ain't it.

Just goes to show what a small world we live in, don't it.

Thanks for the inspiration, Straka. It's nice to hear a success (almost!) story like yours!

Sebby said:

I am a writer.

Clear the room.

It's kind of like farting at a party, ain't it.

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That's one of the good things about living in LA. There are so many creative types out here that nobody really bats an eye. When I go back to my home state to visit I'm more of a curiosity.

You do get to find out how many other people are writing novels or think they'd like to, and yes, everybody wants an autographed copy.

Yeah it's a weird thing. I'm writing my 17th book now and I still have a hard time calling myself a writer...but its gets easier and seems more natural ever time I do it.

I'm not a writer. I just tell people that so I won't have to explain that I'm a superhero.

I used to tell people I was a male escort/porn star. As it turned out, n some ways the 'writer' thing was easier to pull off. Or out. Or whatever.

I see little point in telling anyone I'm a writer. Chances are they aren't readers, and they'll ask, "Oh, would I have read anything of yours?" The answer is, No--not unless you're published in People magazine, so why even go there?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing the "I'm a writer" thing. If it makes you feel happy, by all means tell people you're a writer. The Writers Store in Los Angeles even has hats you can buy that will tell everyone, without the need to even move your lips.

I'm sorry. I'm starting to sound sarcastic in spite of myself. For some people, telling certain important people in their lives that they are attempting to write in earnest is a very important step in their development--sort of chaining themselves to the mast, as it were.

But telling people you meet casually? Iffy. Many of the professional writers I know squirm and evade all night to avoid it. Why? Because it smacks of posturing.

And, even worse, once people discover you've had a novel published, they will want to tell you about the great idea they have for a book, except they don't have time to write it (as if time is the only problem, and your dog could write a book if it could operate the keyboard), and...

All in all, the porn star thing is easier to deal with. And makes for more stimulating conversation:

THEM: So have I seen anything you've been in?

YOU: Did you see [insert random name of porn movie]?

THEM: We're you in that?

YOU: Well, let's just say, the, umm, interesting parts...yeah, those were, umm, me...

Trust me. In a world where most people can't read without their lips getting tired, this works far better than telling people you're a writer.

I think if one's going to call himself a writer, he should have had at least some success being one first.

I can't believe how many times I'm watching a reality TV program and they say, "I'm a twenty-three-year-old writer from New York" and when I look them up they were published by PA.

Jennifer Solow goes to the gym and works out in t-shirts that say, "FAMOUS WRITER." I wouldn't recommend taking it that far, but hey, if you can get away with it...

Why does it sound, when someone announces "I am a writer" that it sounds like a confession at an AA meeting. "I'm Ferret, and I'm a writer."

"Hi Ferret!"

"I first knew I was a writer the day I blacked out and couldn't remember anything that happened that day, but there were reams of paper next to my typewriter with words on them!"

JamieFord said:

Jennifer Solow goes to the gym and works out in t-shirts that say, "FAMOUS WRITER." I wouldn't recommend taking it that far..

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What's wrong with going to the gym?

What a great thread! I decided to try this last night. I was at a party, and I said, "I, Dan Straka am a writer!”

The woman I was talking to said, "Really? Someone just sent me your sci fi manuscript and it was great!"

What are the odds?

It didn't help me much with my book, though.

When I was at the Taos Toolbox workshop last summer, Connie Willis said we should all just say we were writers and when the inevitable "What have you published?" comes up, we should say "Nothing. Yet." I hesitate to do that though. I feel like a fraud.

And, even worse, once people discover you've had a novel published, they will want to tell you about the great idea they have for a book, except they don't have time to write it (as if time is the only problem, and your dog could write a book if it could operate the keyboard), and...

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Oh, yeah.