Writing Essentials: Calling yourself a writer when no one has read what you've written

(This is the third in a series of Writing Essentials- the nitty, gritty details of how-to write a book).

Say it with me, "I am a writer."

Did you just whisper it? Did you look around to make sure no one would hear you say it?

If you did, I get it. I really, really get it. When I set up my author Facebook page it felt absurdly pretentious to present myself as a writer- let alone an author- to the world. Because everyone knows to be a writer means you have a book published.

It's the people reading your book and cheering for you that makes you a writer.

Ummmmm....NO.

That's like saying you're a runner only if someone puts a medal around your neck after you cross the marathon finish line. It's putting one foot in front of the other and actually running that makes you a runner.

Or you're only a builder if someone moves into the house you've designed and nailed together. Nope. It's sawing each piece of wood, hammering each nail in, that makes you a builder.

For a writer, it's getting the words down on paper that makes you a writer. It doesn't matter if someone reads them or not. You wrote them. Call yourself a writer.

Keep saying it. It feels weird. It feels boastful. But it's true. And eventually, it will feel like the most natural thing in the world to tell someone, "I'm a writer."

How about you? What is the thing that you do, but feel awkward announcing to the world?

Read the rest of the series here:

Part One: Writing Essentials: Writing when the muse has packed her bags, hitched a ride, and left the country

Part Two: Writing Essentials: Know why you're writing