People are surprised when I tell them I have upcoming novel (launching in Aug 2024)—heck, I’m surprised. I didn’t study writing in college. I didn’t follow a career path that involved writing (although I do a LOT of writing for work). But I did journal throughout my teens. I have the boxes of journals to prove it. And now I want to go get them and read what I wrote. (The hardest ones will be the ones I wrote while studying abroad in France… I actually wrote them in French, which my brain no longer comprehends😂). Thanks for reminding me that I’ve been a writer my entire life too!
Thank you, Jane, you are definitely a writer. As I stated in one of my latest notes, writer is not an occupation, not something you do, it is who you are, the way you were meant/gifted to express yourself, as would a musician with music or a painter with colors: https://substack.com/@geraldineclaudel/note/c-56503654
You may not be a professional writer - yet - but you are a writer because a writer is simply someone who writes. It's amazing how human beings tend to scare themselves with simple words, or depreciate themselves as a matter of fact. Am I a talented writer? It's not for me to say, but I am a writer because it is the activity that brings the most joy in my life and definitely the best way for me to express clearly and honestly my true self.
Thank you for your insight and kind words. I expressed myself by writing my entire life, only I didn't always see it. I am constantly writing and creating in my mind, but I don't always listen to it if that makes sense. For me, (or is it myself? My editing skills hold me back for sure!) writing was something I rediscovered again in middle age. I think middle age is a time for rediscovering parts of our childhood and past . It is a time when we decide what to bring with us and what to leave behind. Thanks again for commenting and reading my post. I'll check our your post
You are a writer, the imagination, journaling, story stories all of it. I think it comes naturally for us and we don't give it a second thought. I'm like doesn't everyone think this way? Lol.
I'm constantly writing in my head too. I'll be driving with my family and say, I saw that lady yesterday, where is she going today with those bags. I wonder what her story is? I get eye rolls, but I'm already writing a story in my head about her
I do all the wondering too. Sometimes I'll wonder aloud but mostly in my head. Whenever my kids are around me, they hate when I wonder aloud so I've worked on keeping it in my head when I'm around people.
Where did she get that shirt? What's in her bag? Where is she going? Why? What did she just stop on? Does she live nearby? Who taught her to curl her hair that way?
The wondering is endless. I've never thought of it as a writerly trait.
People are surprised when I tell them I have upcoming novel (launching in Aug 2024)—heck, I’m surprised. I didn’t study writing in college. I didn’t follow a career path that involved writing (although I do a LOT of writing for work). But I did journal throughout my teens. I have the boxes of journals to prove it. And now I want to go get them and read what I wrote. (The hardest ones will be the ones I wrote while studying abroad in France… I actually wrote them in French, which my brain no longer comprehends😂). Thanks for reminding me that I’ve been a writer my entire life too!
Thanks and so true! You ARE a writer :) Congratulations on your novel!! That's awesome!
Thank you, Jane, you are definitely a writer. As I stated in one of my latest notes, writer is not an occupation, not something you do, it is who you are, the way you were meant/gifted to express yourself, as would a musician with music or a painter with colors: https://substack.com/@geraldineclaudel/note/c-56503654
You may not be a professional writer - yet - but you are a writer because a writer is simply someone who writes. It's amazing how human beings tend to scare themselves with simple words, or depreciate themselves as a matter of fact. Am I a talented writer? It's not for me to say, but I am a writer because it is the activity that brings the most joy in my life and definitely the best way for me to express clearly and honestly my true self.
Own it, Jane. You are a writer!
Thank you for your insight and kind words. I expressed myself by writing my entire life, only I didn't always see it. I am constantly writing and creating in my mind, but I don't always listen to it if that makes sense. For me, (or is it myself? My editing skills hold me back for sure!) writing was something I rediscovered again in middle age. I think middle age is a time for rediscovering parts of our childhood and past . It is a time when we decide what to bring with us and what to leave behind. Thanks again for commenting and reading my post. I'll check our your post
Huh… you know, I’ve never really considered myself to be a Writer… except for the fact that I write stuff (and therefore, must be a “writer”).
But I’ve never taken into account that, as a child, I wrote short stories, and made up stories in my head, or while playing pretend.
And I’ve been journaling since I was ten years old.
I did take part in NaNoWriMo in 2006.
Hmm… you’ve got me rethinking this!
You are a writer, the imagination, journaling, story stories all of it. I think it comes naturally for us and we don't give it a second thought. I'm like doesn't everyone think this way? Lol.
I'm constantly writing in my head too. I'll be driving with my family and say, I saw that lady yesterday, where is she going today with those bags. I wonder what her story is? I get eye rolls, but I'm already writing a story in my head about her
I do all the wondering too. Sometimes I'll wonder aloud but mostly in my head. Whenever my kids are around me, they hate when I wonder aloud so I've worked on keeping it in my head when I'm around people.
Where did she get that shirt? What's in her bag? Where is she going? Why? What did she just stop on? Does she live nearby? Who taught her to curl her hair that way?
The wondering is endless. I've never thought of it as a writerly trait.
Sounds exactly like me! I had to laugh out loud
Thank you. 😊