I’ve done quite a few interviews lately, and one question that keeps coming up is When did I first consider myself to be a writer? I’ve heard a lot of different perspectives on that very question. I read somewhere that you have to write a million words before you can really call yourself a writer. I’m sure over my lifetime I’ve written well over a million words—through papers for school, essays, and now business reports at work—but the person that made this bold statement meant one million words while writing novels. Hmm, by that measure I don’t quite stack up yet. In fact, I’m only half a writer at the moment, perhaps all plot and no character development, or maybe all idea and no flow. I dunno. It might just mean I do everything half as well as I should. If they had trading cards for authors, here’s what my stats would look like on the back of my card:
Angel Evolution- 72,000
Demon Evolution- 65,000
Archangel Evolution- 69,000
Unpublished YA Paranormal- 91,000
4 Unpublished Children’s Books- 151,000
Unpublished YA Dystopian- 88,000
TOTAL WORDS- 536,000
I suppose 536,000 words isn’t too bad for 16 months, but at the same time, it’s scary to think that I’ve spent all that time and effort and I’m still only half a writer. I’m at least a year away from hitting the one million words mark. But I don’t think being a writer is based on word count.
Or is being a writer based on how many books you sell? Some magic number—a thousand books? Or perhaps it takes a million books—a NY Times bestseller. I’m hoping to hit a thousand books sold soon, but as for the NY Times thing, not likely, at least not in the near future. Perhaps I’ll save that for next year ;). But I don’t think being a writer is based on book sales either.
It might just be a state of mind, like I think I’m a writer so I am. You know, a Zen thing. All meditation and no perspiration. But I think it’s more than that, too.
So do I measure up? I hit the Zen writing theory—I definitely want to be a writer. But I miss on word count and book sales, at least at this point in my short career.
And yet I consider myself to be a writer. In fact, I started thinking of myself as a writer before I even finished my first book. For me it was simply desire plus effort. If I wanted to be a writer, and I put in the effort to be one (ie writing every single day, no matter what), then I could call myself a writer.
I hope one day to write my millionth word, find my name on a best seller list (even if it’s most books sold in some obscure place with a population of 65 people), but in the meantime, I’m still a writer, and I’ll keep on writing.
As always, happy reading!
I think it comes down to a choice of lifestyle. By the million-word standard, I am only a quarter of a writer, yet I absolutely consider myself to be one even this early on. I have re-shaped my life to make writing my main focus (aside from college, which does, sadly, take priority). That being said, many people consider themselves to be writers, but are terrible at it. Therefore, I think being a "writer" is, like I said, a lifestyle choice, and being a "successful writer" is having made notable achievements (best seller lists, significant financial gains, passionate fans, etc).
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat, really good points :) You are absolutely right, while I consider myself to be a writer, I hope to become a successful writer soon. I've read your first book and think its really good! You definitely have what it takes to be a successful writer and you're already a writer!
ReplyDeleteUm, I believe you've arrived at the title of 'writer,' if you ask me. Not only are you actually writing, but you have published and sold your books. Did you see the s on the end? That means you have sold more than one book. Are you a NY Bestseller? No, but that does not mean you're a writer. You are what you do, so don't question whether you are or aren't. And it isn't if you're making a half-way effort. It's ok if writing is not your full-time day job (more power to you for handling more than ONE career). There are plenty of writers who have 'real' jobs. Be proud of what and who are, and you, sir, are a writer.
ReplyDeleteLOL, thanks Patricia :) I do think of myself as a writer, always will ;)
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