Last Wednesday, I was waiting outside one of my best friend's apartment. I'd been told to meet them there, but due to my utter inability to read, I'd managed to arrive a few minutes early, and they managed to arrive a little late.
I was sitting on the steps outside, struggling to maintain my connection to their wifi, a battle that I was fairly close to losing. Somehow, in all this, I managed to embroil myself in a fight online as one does. Figures, the woman who writes bullshit for a living managed to get into an argument online, right?
As I sat there on the stoop, hammering out a few paragraphs in response to some angry fight I'd engaged myself in on Tumblr, a thought occurred to me: 'What does one have to do to be able to call themselves a writer?'
Certainly, almost anyone can sit down in front of a computer and hammer out any amount of words in any order they choose. They can write whatever they want. But does that make me a writer? If not, What do I have to do in order to be considered a writer? When do I become a certified Writer? And If there is indeed a list of requirements one must go through in order to credibly call themselves a writer, what are they?
I posed this question to my friends when they finally showed up to let me into the apartment. Renea had this to say:
"That's a really broad term. All you have to do to call yourself a 'writer' is write."
Is this true, though? Is writing all anyone has to do to be considered a writer? I decided to put this theory to the test. The next day, I filed an application with Odyssey and here I am, with my inaugural article. An inaugural article that I certainly hope you'll enjoy.
I certainly consider myself a writer, I write almost daily and according to everyone I've asked, that makes me a writer. I, however, have developed my own theory. I posit that there's a difference between writing, and being a Writer.
Like I said, any one can sit down in front of a keyboard and hammer out any arrangement of letters and words they would like (a quick browse on the comment section proves this). In my opinion, a Writer is someone who not only writes but through time and patience, develops this trade into something they can truly be proud of.
Now, this isn't a terribly prohibitive requirement, but it is a requirement. In this humble blogger's opinion, in order to truly consider yourself a writer you must not only be willing to sit down and write to the best of your abilities, but you must also strive to constantly improve and refine your trade into something fantastic.
There's an old story I've heard repeated at my by fellow artists, writers, and the like. I've heard it repeated ad nauseam. And I think it's an excellent way to end today:
**Picasso is sketching at a park. A woman walks by, recognizes him, and begs for her portrait. Somehow, he agrees. A few minutes later, he hands her the sketch. She is elated, excited about how wonderfully it captures the very essence of her character, what beautiful work it is, and asks how much she owes him. “5000 francs, madam,” says Picasso. The woman is incredulous, outraged, and asks how that’s even possible given it only took him 5 minutes. Picasso looks up and, without missing a beat, says: “No, madam, it took me my whole life.**
