On Being a Writer

I write, therefore I am a writer, yes? No? Maybe? This is a question that goes through the minds of some, if not many, aspiring novelists. We write, but we aren’t getting paid to write, so can we really be called “writers”? The title “writer” sounds so professional, like policeman, or teacher. But are such titles restricted only to those who are paid to perform those jobs? Granted, there are some activities that demand you be professionally employed. A policeman needs to be professionally employed to be sure he/she has the authority to do the job. We can’t all go around conducting covert operations in our spare time without the backing of a government agency. Well, I presume that’s the case… But I think these are exceptions to the rule.

I don’t think it would be inaccurate for me to call myself a theologian. I have two degrees in the subject, I write on theological issues here, and teach it at church. Just because I don’t get paid to be a theologian, that doesn’t mean I’m not being one. I also feel comfortable with being called a musician. I don’t have a music degree, I don’t teach music, I don’t get paid to play music, I haven’t even had any formal musical training. But I play a few instruments to a reasonable degree of proficiency, and I play both for pleasure and for church.

So why not call myself a writer too? I have been writing stories as far back as I remember, and while I went on a fiction hiatus for a number of years (I may blog about that sometime), I still wrote, even if the things I wrote were non-fiction. I have always loved words and the idea that people can communicate ideas, create worlds, toy with reality, and explore the infinite “what ifs” with nothing more than pen and paper. The idea still excites me today. I write, therefore I am a writer. And one day, perhaps, maybe, someone will pay me to do it.