"Nice to meet you. Oh, who am I? I'm a college student... I'm going to an arts school... creative writing...." Slaps forehead. I should have just said I'm a writer.
I am a writer. Look at the facts! I'm paying for creative writing classes, I've participated in group critiques and book analyses and I'm seeking publishing deals almost daily. I write, damn it. Yes, I'm not published, but that doesn't mean I won't be an author one day. It's so irritating to still be considered an amateur even though I've been working on my craft for over three years. The idea that you have to be published to be considered a writer is weird. It's not even true, yet it's a mindset we all gravitate toward when we first start out.
That's why young writers tend to look and act the same way. It's not that we're faking it, we're just trying to tell the world and ourselves that we are writers. So here are five ways to feel like a writer when you're in public.
1. Coffee, Coffee, COFFEE!
There's just something about having a mug full of bitter-sweet goodness that brings back memories of staying up late and writing. Drink responsibly and in moderation. If you don't like coffee, tea works too.
2. Speaking of coffee, why not treat yourself to an awesome mug?
I love these kinds of mugs. They are a great source of inspiration for me and they automatically let strangers know what I'm all about. I have one that says "Lady of Literature" and another with quotes from my idol, Mark Twain.
3. Thou Shall Remember Thy Notebook.
This is what separates serious writers from hobby writers who "could write a novel if they only had the time." If you're like me, you're already carrying around paper or a worn out notebook that has scribbles of notes you've taken in between classes or while waiting for a bus. If you're like me, then you get a rush every time you step into an office supplies store, a rush that feels lie you get from chocolate or kissing.
4. Go to cafés.
There are different ways to write. Some like it cozy and prefer to type in their bedrooms, others have trouble focusing in their bedrooms or offices and just need to get out, so they go to libraries and cafés to write. Any way you do it is fine as long as you have a place that makes you feel like a writer and gets those creative juices pumping.
5. Read!
Shocker, I know. But one of the greatest ways to get inspiration for your own writing is to read some inspiring writing by others. Plus, there's a cornucopia of helpful books and magazine on writing. One of my favorites is Writer's Digest. Not only does it have helpful tips for all writers but it also features interviews with rising authors. I read it and I imagine the day I'll be interviewed for my work.
Bonus: Start thinking like a writer.
Ditch those old thoughts of "yeah I might be a writer someday". Start thinking "I'm a writer, what's your super power?" Don't lose that passion.
Repeat this mantra:
Be a writer now. Write until your pens explode and even longer after that.
