You’re Not a Real Writer then, Are You?

Summary

A freelance writer defends their profession against skepticism from a friend who equates writing with book publishing and questions the legitimacy of the writer's career based on the lack of published books.

Abstract

The article discusses the misconception that one is not a "real" writer unless they have published books. The author, a freelance writer with a background in Information Technology, recounts a conversation with a friend who doubted the author's claim of being a writer because they hadn't published any books. The friend, seemingly impressed by the income the author earns from writing SEO-enriched content, is silenced when the author reveals their substantial earnings from writing. The piece concludes with an invitation for readers to follow the author, subscribe to their work, and explore more of their writing, emphasizing the author's credentials and diverse writing expertise.

Opinions

The author challenges the traditional view that equates writing solely with book publishing.
There is an implication that financial success can be a measure of professional validation, as evidenced by the author's response to their friend's skepticism.
The author's friend appears to have a narrow perspective on what constitutes a writing career, focusing only on book authorship.
The author is confident in the value and legitimacy of their work as a freelance writer, despite the lack of published books.
The article suggests that writing for the web, such as SEO content, is a viable and lucrative writing career.
The author's credentials, including their military background, journalism degree, and editing certification, are presented to reinforce their expertise and credibility in the field of writing.

Don’t you tire of those who look down their nose when you say you’re a writer?

A friend of mine asked, “Why don’t you get a real job?”

I said, “I’m a freelance writer. I write SEO-enriched content for websites, blogs, and articles.”

He said, “I don’t get it, you did Information Technology in the Army. How many books have you published?”

When I said none, he replied, “Then you’re not a real writer, are you?” To which I replied, “I brought home $92,000 last year with my nonexistent skills. How about your real job?”

He didn’t say anything else, but he couldn’t seem to get his chin off his chest or get out quick enough.

You’re Not a Real Writer, Then, Are You?

Don’t you tire of those who look down their nose when you say you’re a writer?

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