Summary

The content discusses the author's introspection on the identity of being a "real writer," reflecting on personal achievements, imposter syndrome, and the subjective nature of writing.

Abstract

The author expresses a mix of excitement and anxiety about their upcoming book release and acceptance into the ILLUMINATION publication, alongside reaching 202 followers on their profile. Despite these accomplishments, the author grapples with imposter syndrome, questioning their legitimacy as a writer due to past academic performance and age. The text delves into the definition of a writer, suggesting that the act of writing with intention, for pleasure or communication, rather than formal qualifications, is what truly defines a writer. The author ponders whether the enjoyment of writing and the ability to engage readers is what distinguishes a writer, concluding that perhaps everyone is a writer to some extent, with varying degrees of proficiency and interest.

Opinions

The author feels that the pursuit of writing, whether for financial gain or personal satisfaction, is what qualifies one as a writer.
Imposter syndrome is a significant barrier for the author, casting doubt on their abilities and success as a writer.
Writing is seen as a vocation that is not exclusively defined by formal education or writing by hand.
The author believes that the enjoyment and engagement of the audience, rather than objective standards, are indicators of good writing.
There is a notion that the title of "writer" is self-ascribed and does not require external validation apart from the act of writing itself.
The author suggests that everyone has the potential to be a writer, and that the quality of writing is subjective and varies from person to person.

What Makes A Writer?

How do you know if you are a real writer? What even IS a real writer?

I was super happy today to see 202 followers on my profile.

I was even more glad to see I had been accepted into another publication, ILLUMINATION.

My dog behaviour book is due for release in weeks, and we are going through the final editing stages as we speak.

I should be really excited. All that work is coming to fruition.

I am, however, now bricking it. Like, not just little bricks, but huge great breezeblocks of bricking it.

This means that I am now trying to be a writer, which brings up many potential problems in my brain.

My imposter syndrome is working overtime.

It already invades my work as a dog behaviourist. Now, it wants to take over my writing, too.

That insidious little voice that tells you that you are not as good as everyone else. It says:

You are a fraud and will be found out.
That your whole career will come crashing down when everyone realises.
You only got a “C+” in English GCSE, so how can you possibly know anything about writing?
That you are too old to learn anything new, let alone start a whole new chapter — no pun intended — as a writer.

What if I end up as a laughing stock and a letdown to everyone who is currently in my corner?

Am I a real writer? Or a fake writer? How can one tell if I am or am not a writer?

After all, I do write. But so do most people on a daily basis in one way or another. How do I know what sets a writer apart from a non-writer?

The answer, I believe, lies in what the intention is behind the completed work.

Regardless of whether the writing is for intended financial gain, the love of the lines, or both.

Also, regardless of whether a person had the chance to attend university and get extensive lists of letters after their name.

Choosing to put words on the paper or the screen and doing so for the pursuit of communicating a story or information for the consumption of oneself or another at a later date would surely qualify one as a writer.

Doing so for enjoyment of the act, rather than out of necessity, would even make a vocation of writing, would it not?

Of course, not everyone would be able to write or type by hand — so communication through other means of those stories and informative pieces would still fit the bill when describing someone as a writer.

Conversely, someone writing through necessity, with another goal in mind, such as filling out a form or making notes for an idea for work, might not be so much the activities of a writer as they are simply of someone who is writing.

Perhaps a writer is something a person chooses to be. A description they give themselves or another without prior qualification apart from the fact the person writes?

There may be no right or wrong way to express themselves apart from attempting to stick to grammar and having a decent attempt at spelling things correctly.

Some who commit to authoring would be more compelling to read than others, but again, who decides what is enjoyable to read or interesting to learn?

What one person enjoys and devours every word might put another to sleep in seconds. Which person is right?

The answer, of course, is neither. Or both.

Maybe we are all writers?

Maybe we are all fabulous big fakes, and some are better at it than others.

Maybe we all fall somewhere in the middle.

I hope the 202 followers I have had the pleasure of making acquaintance with enjoy my scrawlings and thoughts, whether I am a real writer or not, as I have enjoyed at least a few pieces each of those wordsmiths have composed very much.

My First Month on Medium.

Here are my experiences and earnings in October 2023, when I became a Medium writer.

freyavlockeauthor.com

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30 Day Challenge — Day 27