How To Become A True Writer With One Article

Take this step and earn the title once and for all

How is a writer made?

So many of us on Medium have an ache in our hearts to become writers. We each have our own vision of what that will look like: how much money is involved, how many articles, books, poems, etc. have been churned out, how large our audience is, etc. The bar is set high to allow ourselves the title of author.

I wrote over 500 stories across all my accounts on Medium before I finally felt like I’d earned the right to call myself a writer.

But what if we don’t get to define what makes us a writer? Our ideas about success may be getting in the way of who — and what — we really are.

What Makes A Plumber?

Stay with me here. In your home, there are pipes to work on. You might have unclogged drains and fixed leaks as part of everyday life. Does that make you a plumber?

No. I wouldn’t think so.

In the same way, being able to write isn’t enough to make someone a writer. You can joke about it, but no one would take you seriously as a plumber for plunging a toilet. Nor does anyone call you a writer for sending an email.

So, then, how is a writer made?

To be clear — we’re not talking about a good writer. Mediocre is fine here, we can worry about being good later. First and foremost, how is the “writer” part of the title earned?

Weeding out the “good” part of it, simply being a writer at all seems to have conflicting requirements. Some say you’ve got to be good at grammar, others say reading is a must. Sorting through the resources I could find, I found a few overlapping points for what it takes to be a writer — good, bad, or average.

And you can do it in one article.

How is that possible? Well, to understand how it can be so easy, let’s talk about the things that don’t have to be present for an average writer:

Grammar

I know, I know. You think it needs to be present, but it doesn’t. Grammar helps make writing readable, but a good editor (one that gets paid to fix this lack of knowledge, not the free ones on Medium) negates this requirement. I’ve heard of successful, professional authors who can’t keep grammar straight at all, yet no one would question their authorship:

F. Scott Fitzgerald was notorious for spelling errors, for example. E.L. James’ 50 Shades of Grey was horribly written, with a ton of grammatical issues left in the final print. Didn’t stop her from being a best seller.

Grammar is decidedly not what makes a writer. It can make a good writer, but not a writer in general.

Reading

This one is tricky, because some aspects of what make a writer (especially a good one) could require one to read. But it’s not important to constantly be reading a novel every non-writing moment. Many copywriters hardly ever read outside the contract details, and they are definitively professional writers.

While being a good writer might call for reading for ideas and techniques to improve their skills, it’s not something the average writer needs to worry about right away.

Imaginative Ideas

A common misnomer is that writers have to come up with new and exciting storylines to deliver to readers. I’m not even sure this is necessary for good writers, as retelling old stories and tropes can still make for great writing. Conversely, I’ve read plenty of imaginative works that were dull and uninteresting, as all the skill seemed wasted on generating novelty. While writers can have novelty, it’s neither required for writing OR a qualifier for good writing, either.

A Portfolio Of Works

Sure, having examples may help on a resume or for freelancing, but nowhere in any of the resources I saw, did it specifically say previous works required. We can assume, then, that one publicly written work is the only requirement. Bare minimum to be a writer.

Do You Have What It Takes?

Ready to take on the task of earning the title of “writer” once and for all? It’s much simpler than you might think. Being a writer involves the attempt, not necessarily the result. So if you’re trying but failing to deliver on some of these, that’s ok. It’s the intent that truly matters.

✅Desire To Write

This is in nearly every resource as a requirement. Most of them reference a passion, but some forms of writing (technical, copy, etc.) don’t often have that burning kind of desire. It’s more of a pragmatic desire, like breathing is to life. Writing is the vehicle of choice, and no other will do. If you can agree with that statement, then you can check this box.

✅Make Space For The Habit

Obviously to be a habit, you’ve got to do this more than once. But even the first time you set aside time to write a piece that checks all these boxes, you’ve made the first step in that routine. This doesn’t include moments of inspiration or boredom. Making space means you’ve decided to sit down and access the communication tools and muse within, to try to get them to work together toward a singular goal.

For many years, I relied solely on that inspiration to guide my writing. Wouldn’t even sit down unless I was already inspired. Looking back, I can agree that wasn’t enough to earn the title of “writer.” Poet, maybe. But ‘writer’ takes conscious intention. Without that, you’re just a person writing.

✅Your Unique Voice

This means you’re not trying to be someone you’re not. A lot of us try to emulate others, and lose our voice in doing so. It’s fine to learn new techniques, but to be a writer means to have a unique writing voice that no one else has. Something only you bring to the writing table.

For some people, finding their voice is a journey unto itself. For others, it’s apparent from day 1. In either case, the intent to be your authentic self is enough.

✅Be Aware Of The Reader

This one was rare in the lists, only present in the shadows of suggestions to be a “good” writer. But I would argue that considering the reader is a necessity. How well you can empathize with them and anticipate their thoughts, needs, and reactions will determine how successful you are, but the knowledge you are writing to someone is a must.

Otherwise, writing in your diary would be enough. And it’s decidedly not.

Now, Anne Frank basically did that and she’s technically a writer. So diaries can be tricky. Frank wrote her entries to a fictional characters, inspired by Dutch author Cissy van Marxveldt. One could say she was considering a reader in that manner. She also intended to be an author, and wrote other works outside her diary. I believe she was a writer from the moment she started writing with that intention, including the diary entries.

That’s really about it. There are plenty of things to do to improve your writing, or be more successful, but to earn the title of writer, that’s all you’ve got to do.

Feel like a writer yet?

Bring Your Story To Monster Alley

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If you’re already a writer for Monster Alley, add the tag “This Happened To Me” and it will show up on the “Personal Stories” page. Share with us how your writing journey is going, and what your hopes are for the future.

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The Monsters in the Alley look forward to hearing from you. Until then, follow yourself, always!