You’re a Writer if You Write

“A writer is a person who produces and composes fictional or nonfictional writing or literary art such as novels, short stories, poetry, plays, screenplays, or essays—especially someone who writes professionally.” ~Wikipedia

Notice that Wikipedia’s definition of “writer” did not say, “A writer is… only someone who writes professionally.”

If you write, you’re a writer.

Don't put a bunch of conditions on being a writer. Own the label without restrictions.

You don’t have to have a book on the shelf (or the cyber-shelf) to be a writer. You don’t have to have your by-line in a big magazine (or even a little magazine). You don’t have to have your by-line appear publicly anywhere, actually, to be a writer. 

If you put words together in written form to tell a story, you’re a writer.

Have you heard that it only “counts” if you’re published? If you’re acclaimed? If you’re paid?

All of that is nice, but in the end, if you write, you’re a writer—no matter why you write, how you write, or where your words appear.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

What’s your definition of “writer”?

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Photo courtesy of Tnarik