Summary

The article discusses the indicators that suggest one might already be a writer, emphasizing the transformative nature of engaging with various forms of media and the compulsion to share experiences with a wider audience.

Abstract

The article "How Do You Know When You Can Call Yourself a Writer" explores the ambiguity surrounding the title of 'writer' and the moments that signify one's transition into the writing world. It suggests that being a writer is not just about writing daily or publishing articles, but about a shift in perspective where everyday experiences become potential stories. The author argues that when one feels the urge to share insights from podcasts, conversations with friends, Netflix shows, or even songs, and when these experiences resonate with an audience, it's a sign of having become a writer. The piece highlights the joy of sharing and the sense of community that comes with writing, inviting those who resonate with these experiences to embrace the title of writer.

Opinions

Writing is not defined by a single act but by a habitual engagement with storytelling and sharing.
A writer finds inspiration in diverse sources, such as podcasts, and feels compelled to articulate and disseminate their insights.
Conversations with friends can spark ideas for articles, indicating a writer's mindset.
Even leisure activities like watching Netflix can turn into analytical and sharing opportunities for a writer.
The emotional impact of music can inspire writers to translate their experiences into stories.
The act of writing extends beyond the self, aiming to connect with and contribute to a community of readers and writers.
The transition into being a writer is marked by a change in how one interacts with the world and the desire to share those interactions.

How Do You Know When You Can Call Yourself a Writer

If you find yourself doing any of these, then you might already be one

What does it take to be a writer, when do you get to call yourself a writer?

When do you “earn” this title?

Are you a writer if you write [or type] in your journal every day? Are you a writer if you’ve posted a LinkedIn article? Can you call yourself a writer after the first story you published on Medium? What about texting? We write text messages every day! Where’s the before and after cut off?

There’s a quote in Friends, where Rachel’s sister calls herself a decorator after she decorated their dad’s office, so Rachel responds:

You decorated dad’s office and now you’re a decorator? Okay, yesterday I went to the zoo, now I’m a Koala Bear!

So how do we define a “writer?” When can you confidently call yourself one?

There’s no real definition of course. Here are a few things though which would tell you if you have smoothly and inadvertently transitioned into the writing world.

A writer is working when he’s staring out of the window. — Burton Rascoe

I was exchanging messages with my new [Medium] friend The Maverick Files on this topic, both of us being relatively new to Medium, under 1 year actively writing here, and the changes we have seen in our lives once this has become a habit.

When you listen to a podcast

I have always been a fan of podcasts, they’re my favorite way of learning; they are fresh, new, you can take them anywhere, they are tidbits of information you carry in your ears. Recently, a podcast platform called Wondery has been releasing some excellent story-telling style podcasts.

When you listen to a good story, is sharing it the first thing you want to do? When you share by publishing an article rather than only texting a message to a friend, you might have your first hint.

One example I loved is Isaiah McCall's article sharing lessons learned from an episode he’s listened to, summarizing takeaways from Joe Rogan’s interview with Kanye West. It wasn’t enough that he listened to it and loved it, he needed all of us to share in the joy, too.

When you chat with your friends

Every conversation becomes a potential article topic, an opinion to be shared.

You find yourself thinking of Medium readers as an extension of your group of friends. You sit with your friends on a Friday night discussing interesting recent events, a friend says something which makes you pause and think, and the next thing you know, the inevitable pops in your head: “I have to tell Medium readers about this.”

This is exactly what happened to me a couple of weeks ago. We were sharing our surprise at how a consulting firm paid hundreds of millions of dollars for advice they had given, and my friend says “they say audit is a necessary evil, forget that, let’s talk about unnecessary evil first!” An idea lights in my head. The result:

Necessary evil? Let’s talk about unnecessary evil.

How consulting services helped fuel an opioid epidemic.

medium.com

So when you find yourself alert to anything cool your friends say, you might be one of us now.

When you veg out and watch Netflix

There is no true vegging out for a writer anymore.

The Maverick Files demonstrates this with his review of Cuties, a French drama film on Netflix. Cuties caught a significant amount of media, starting with its poster, causing a Twitter flurry of comments. This went on for a bit, after which Netflix was actually indicted and forced to remove the movie due to what was deemed to be child pornography.

The movie Cuties aside, you find yourself watching shows and movies, and once again itching to share this with your new internet friends, thinking, if I enjoyed this, I know many will, too, I need to let them know of this, I need others to learn from it the way I did.

When you listen to a song

Of course, we cannot let this one slip.

You know the moment. You listen to a song and it all clicks. Somehow, whether you have listened to this song dozens of times or for the first time, this song is now talking to you, this song suddenly makes sense. You are inspired to do something — whether it is to change the world, cry your eyes out, or go for a run, this song made it happen.

And just like Ruchi Das does in her article about a 1950s song being all the answers she ever needed about love, you also want to share all those emotions rushing through you, you need to write it out, you need to tell us all about this.

A song is no longer just a song — a song is now a story to be shared. Your next story.

What I find the most heart-warming result of being a writer is, outside of making new friends in this community, is the feeling of inclusiveness I often have now — I want to share all I learn and enjoy with others, and I feel others’ desire to share their joy with me as well.

If any of this resonates with you, then congratulations, you are hereby a writer. On behalf of this writing community: welcome, we have been waiting for you.