My good friend Juliana is hosting a blogfest this week and you should all go and join in. She's celebrating being a writer and if that isn't something to celebrate, I don't know what is!In this round, we're talking about telling people we're writers.
Well, for a long time I didn't. Writing for me was clandestine, something to be done behind closed doors. I never showed anyone my work or did anything with it.
Then I finished a book. Suddenly, what I'd been working on for so many years was finished. I had no idea what to do with it. So I started looking around for people to read it, places to send it, and contests to enter.
Now I'm proud to say I'm a writer. In fact, I've recently started using that first, before telling people what I do professionally. I mean, I'm more a writer than a cinema manager, right? Writing is my passion; managing the cinema is a job.
When I say that, people always ask one of two things: "What have you written? Would I have read it?" or "Oh, ad copy? Journalist?"
When I admit that I write novels for teenagers, they look at me funny. It's kind of half impressed, half 'this lady is a nut-job'.
But I don't write the books for them, do I? And I'm proud of what I do, even if no one really understands it...
How do people react when you say you're a writer?
"I'm a writer," I say boldly. Usually I'm treated to a blank look, a pause. The polite ones nod. "Oh, that's nice," they say. Which is almost worst than the others who roll their eyes or ask where my book is located on the NYT bestseller list.*sigh*
ReplyDeleteKate, this is amazing and so true- I'm definitely more of a writer than anything else I do professionally. I should be proud of that :)
ReplyDeleteIf their follow up is, "what are you working on?" or "what do you like to write?" then we can have a conversation. If it's "what have you published?" it's usually not going to go so well because often those people get a look on their face when they hear you're unpubbed like, then why are you wasting my time? Um, YOU ASKED.
ReplyDeleteThe feel of your blog tells me that you are a writer and I note also you have done some short stories and I am really looking forward to reading them.
ReplyDeleteAs you get older, younger people seem to me to become more inaccessible. Fiction for younger people is often the only key for older people to enter that world. It is a talent not to be underestimated.
I am so pleased to be meeting stimulating writers as a result of this blogfest!
Emma
Well, first I tell them I'm a choreographer. After that, writer seems downright normal.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting what other people think being a writer means?
ReplyDeleteWriting sort of goes hand in hand with my other career...education :)
ReplyDeleteNew follower!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for telling people. Maybe someday I'll put writer before my day job.
I think it's wonderful you tell people you're a writer first. For me the reaction is so similar whether I say I'm a SAHM or a writer, I've started to say writer first. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteLol I get that response from people too sometimes. "What does young adult mean?" Seriously, people ask me that. So then I have to add, "You know, teenagers." Good for you, I'd definitely tell people about my passion first before my day job!
ReplyDeleteWell written and I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteNew follower :)