The first of these is a seemingly-compulsory tendency to publicly distinguish one's Writer Self from one's (more widely witnessed and more frequently visited) Day Job Self.
The second is a rip tide of self-deprecation that tugs away from the shoreline so many of these writers are aiming for.
"I'm a software analyst by day and a writer by night. Hopefully someday I will write something that somebody will actually want to read."
For those of you who write at night and work during the day, think about the places whence (boy, that sounds formal...) you derive your sense of Self. Is your Self defined by the job you work during the day? If not, I say get that out of your bio!
So many aspiring authors bring their jobs home with them. The trials and troubles of the day float near the front of their mind while they try to write. The annoying coworker who clips his toenails at his desk and spits when he talks causes the writer's mind to wander when it should be consumed with Story.
Writing is not something you do for an hour or two each day. Writing is a lifestyle. Your identity as a Writer (whether you are published or unpublished, learned or green, seasoned or still as bland as egg whites with no salt or pepper) should dictate the way you see the world - like a pair of glasses you wear all the time, whether you're sitting in your designated Writing Place or not.
When aspiring authors go out of their way to clarify what they do for their day job, it is almost as though they are defending their passion for (or...at least, their keen interest in) the written word. "Yes, I want to be a writer - but don't worry! I'm also still responsible. I have a normal job and everything." Furthermore, it provides an escape hatch for the aspiring author. "I want to be a writer, but even if it doesn't work out, it's no big deal. I'm also an insurance salesman."
The self-deprecation enters around this same place also.
Look, I get it - self-deprecation is funny. It's disarming and endearing, and it crumples barriers between the writer and the faceless, faraway reader.
You know what else it is?
It is a defense mechanism. It is a form of protection - a breastplate, a shield, a choose-your-analogy.
But battles are rarely won with body armor alone. Whip out your sword, Dear Writer. Pull out your rifle. Hop in the tank, and attack.
"Fear is at the root of most bad writing."
~Stephen King
The power of Confident Writing is one of the greatest concepts you will ever grasp as a writer.
The power of Confident Living is one of the greatest concepts you will ever grasp as a human being.
Who knows, you might see the world (or even see these issues) in a markedly different light than the one that shines from my mind.
One thing I can tell you for certain, however, is this: Every great writer has seen the world as a writer. And every great piece of writing rides the confidence that the writer had in their command of the craft.
As you read this (at your desk at work?), consider the way you see the world. Consider the way you see yourself. Consider the way you approach your quest for a life of letters.
Do you see the world as a Writer, or is your Writer Self only a small sliver of You?
Do you see yourself as a Writer who (for now) works doing something else as well, or do you see yourself as a Something Else who also writes?
Are you confident that you are doing everything you can to become the best writer your talent will allow? If so, you have no reason to write in any manner but a confident manner.
This post sings a deeper note than I usually aim to hit on this site, but these thoughts were bubbling forth...and who am I to stop them? If this post helps even just one of you, it is forever worth it.
Keep writing, Dear Writer.
Keep writing...with confidence.
If you feel like spending 3 more minutes on the site,
here is a moldy old post that is more fun than today's:
Don't Tell Me I'll Love Your Book -
Maybe I Won't!
Play nice and share with others
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Posts
Great points. I gave up my high powered career to persue my dream of becoming a writer, but bills must be paid, food purchased, etc. So I took a job that I hate and find myself appologizing for that. But really it's the best job I could have. It keeps me hungry (in more ways than one.) I never stop stiving toward that day when I can quit my day job and write full time.
ReplyDeleteMelissa - That is some serious commitment! Very impressive, and definitely moving you toward an unavoidable collision with your goal.
ReplyDeleteFor a long time I just kept my compulsive writing secret. I thought people would judge me as an impractical dreamer. Which is really stupid, because my day job is teaching dance. Not exactly the most practical life choice in the history of life choices. Now, I'm learning to stop worrying about other people's perceptions (because that will shade my perception of myself) and just do what I gotta do.
ReplyDeleteMelissa - I know what you mean. Being too content with the life that you are currently living means that you probably won't work hard enough towards what you really want. Lots of respect!
Sarah - It's so true, your perception of yourself will shape your life. Who cares what's practical anyway!
ReplyDeleteGreat piece - again.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to disagree with you a little, though. Mentioning your "day job" isn't always a bad thing. I'm a paramedic as well as a writer, and I'm not ashamed of that. It's an honorable profession and it's been a huge part of defining who I am. Saying I'm a paramedic isn't to me apologizing for being a writer. Even if I became a successful author, I'd still tell people about my day job. The problem is, my passion lies elsewhere. I'm a paramedic because that's what I do; I'm a writer because that's what I am. I'm just now starting to tell people I'm a writer who's also a paramedic, instead of the other way around.
I'm not sure how you do it, but you always manage to post content that has been on my mind. I have been calling myself a writer since I started writing. I felt I was allowed to call myself a writer once I discovered your post, Hi, My Name Is....
ReplyDeleteI have an extremely flexible (and extremely inconsistent) part-time job. I don't identify with it whatsoever, which is why most people don't even know what it is. It's not in my bio; it's not even in my facebook profile (and we all know that is the only way in 2010 to make something official...)It is not ideal, but I did some long-term planning and allowed myself to do this for a given amount of time - the reason being so I could complete my manuscript in a timely manner. I don't bring anything home and my job doesn't distract me. If anything, it supports me. My co-workers have been overwhelmingly supportive in my writing quest. They stand behind me and want me to succeed. And I need those cheerleaders, especially to cancel out the Negative Nancy's disguised as "friends" who will never pass an opportunity to remind me how incredibly naive and foolish I'm being. (Yea...I don't speak to them much these days...)
However, everyone knows I used to be a teacher because I do identify as being BOTH an author AND an educator. I've often joked that my teaching experience was fieldwork for my next journey, but that isn't entirely false. Yes, I wanted to be a teacher, but at the same time, I was provided with more writing material than I could have ever asked for. To me, these two components of my life go hand-in-hand, and I feel blessed that is the case.
I completely see myself as a writer, who for now (and God do I hope it is only for now) earns my paycheck through another venue. I also know if I ever go back to teaching, I will be BOTH a writer AND a teacher - the way Jennifer Lopez is BOTH a singer AND an actress, the way Dane Cook is BOTH an actor AND a comedian, and the way Snooki is...well, never mind....
I believe you have to fully own whatever it is you set out to do in life. If you don't, you will fall short, and ultimately, let yourself down.
WOW, did I seriously just write an essay??? Sorry; I think at times, I also miss being a student. My professors, however, would not agree. They are thankful for students who submit shorter writing assignments...
Dan - I think that last part is the key: "...starting to tell people I'm a writer who's also a paramedic, instead of the other way around."
ReplyDeletePaul - As always (yourself), these are insightful thoughts. I knew you were once a teacher after a single visit to your page, and I think that's great - the pursuit and the dissemination of knowledge are such integral parts of being a writer, and being a teacher is much of the same. In fact, my most beneficial (and brilliant) writing friend also teaches creative writing at a high-school in New Jersey. One of the primary points I wanted to drive at with this post was the idea of feeling passionate about writing - using that passion to create a bubble of "writing" that you live in all the time, even when your fingers are not on the keyboard. I would say that you, undoubtedly, have created such an environment for yourself, and I think that's a huge stride toward the golden lands of publication.
ReplyDeleteI always told myself that someday I would be a writer. And now I am. I don't work at a day job, writing is my job. It's not as easy as some people think.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Nothing is easy if you work as hard at it as you should. But being a full-time writer myself, I can attest to the fact that - while it certainly is not easy - it is everything it is cracked up to be. Agreed?
ReplyDeleteActually, I interpret that in a totally diff way, and I think writers could mean it either way. That is, the software analyst by day and the writer by night. I don't see it as self-deprecating, but more as a frustrated wail, like, "I'd only write more if I didn't have this DAY JOB" kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteThe reason my day job is in my bio is very simple - I'm very visible online, and should my employer happen upon my bio anywhere, it will reassure them to see that my day job is listed too. If I didn't include it and they saw only my writing bio, it could create all sorts of issues at work as they questioned my loyalty.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't mean I take my writing any less seriously, as anyone who interacts with me on a regular basis knows. It just means I'm smart enough to guard against potential strife at one job while working the other. Someday that won't be necessary, but I'm fine with it for now.
Carol & Jamie - I'm glad we have some dissenting opinions on here! As I said, many people will see these issues in an entirely different way than I see them (which is one of the cool things about engaging in discussions related to the craft and the lifestyle of writing, is that we can learn things by viewing the world through others' eyes). Of course, I differentiated between the "Day Job" section and the "self-deprecation" section - I certainly do not feel that listing one's day job is a form of self-deprecation (just to make sure that's clear!). But I think it is of the utmost importance for aspiring authors to see themselves as writers, rather than seeing themselves as a "something else" who also writes. While each of us might see the landmarks that guide the reader through this post in a different way, I think the destination is the same.
ReplyDelete