Are You a Writer?
I suspect that if you are reading this you are a writer, blogger, lover of words and books, or all of the above and more. What a wonderful thing it is to be able to express thoughts, ideas, stories, adventures and beyond via the written word. A blessing for sure, for many of these products of our minds and hearts will be captured for others to read, now and in the future.
Shannon McMahon, at Somewhere Between Fact and Fiction, recently 'cataloged her behavior' in the post, You're a Writer If. I nodded and laughed as I read the list. Yup, that's me, I'm a writer too! I'm curious to see if anyone sees themselves in this list too.
I've heard people call themselves aspiring writers and it reminds me of a fabulous piece of advice that I received years ago from a friend and writing mentor. She knew I felt called to write and advised me to "Call myself a writer." It took me a little while to take her advice, but I'm glad I did, because I am a writer. My post Call Yourself a Writer shares more about this and the impact it had on my life.
So tell me, what are you called to do? Is writing among those things? What was your first indication that this was your calling? If you are a writer, do you ever shut off the writer's voice in your head? Please share!
Have a lovely and blessed weekend,
Karen
Great post and links. I'm a writer because I write. I also have a passion to teach, inspire and muse. :-)
ReplyDeleteMorning Karen!
ReplyDeleteI am the reader of the writers who are like the people mentioned on the list. The people for whom writing is like breathing. Looking forward to reading more of you.
Have a fantastic blessed day. Hug.♥
Aww, thanks for the shout out on my post. =) I appreciate it. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteYou just made my day!
I am a writer. I don't remember a time when I didn't want to be one. The best thing about writing for me has been the fun I've had receiving God's gifts of time, resources and gentle nudges to write. The rest will also come from Him too.
ReplyDeleteRight now I am enjoying a few days of writing on my own at Mum and Dad's beach house - a real birthday blessing of TIME from my darling husband.
Blessings to you Karen,
from wintery Australia
Dorothy XX
Charmaine,
ReplyDeleteThank you! I can relate, especially with the muse part:)
Raymonde,
You are an artist in many ways, and I would not underestimate your writing talents. Your blog is wonderful:)
Shannon,
You are welcome! I enjoyed the post and thought it'd be fun to share.
Dorothy,
Enjoy your retreat! What a blessing. Be sure and stay warm:)
Love and blessings to you all,
Karen
There is something powerful about speaking your calling out loud. It's confirmation to me each time I do. Each time I have openly identified myself as a writer, I am amazed at how God raises it up a little more inside.
ReplyDeleteWe KNOW you are called my friend! You always have such great insight!
Hello Karen...Oh, I am definitely a writer. I have pens and paper, not just on the table near my bed, but all over the house and car! Ha! I'd rather write than sleep. My blog, Writing Straight from the Heart, has given me tremendous joy these past seven months. I have especially loved meeting other writers, like you! Take care and have a great afternoon! Sincerely, Susan
ReplyDeleteI have a dear friend who started me on calling myself a writer. She sees me, even when my own self-doubts and judgements wall me in to believing I have to have the degree, the writing credits, the agent, and not be working my day job, to be a REAL writer. A writer writes. So is a writer. I look forward to exploring the links you shared.
ReplyDeleteWell, I got into writing for a different reason than most, I think. I've never wanted to be a writer. It's just something I started doing, and when I start something, I usually go all ballistic about it. So yeah. That's how I started writing -- and yes, I call myself a writer now. But I could be something else too...
ReplyDeleteI usually don't call myself a writer, just a blogger. Need to change my mindset on that one.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am a writer. Either the Lord called me by putting this ache in my heart and hands to share His grace with others via writing, or I called myself by loving it.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was a run-on sentence.
No, I cannot shut off the writer's voice in my head. It woos, cajoles and tyrannizes until I follow.
It took me awhile to call myself a writer:) Until I had something published and then I told very few people. But I love that we are and I love the kind of people I've met who also are:)
ReplyDeleteGreat post and links! Thanks Karen! I am a writer, just an unpubbed one. Maybe not a great one. But writing is what I do. Can't help it. There are too many people and scenarios running around in my head! I've got to get them out somehow!
ReplyDeleteI'm a writer. There! I've said it again.
ReplyDeleteEver since I was a kid and met Jo March.
I thought I'd shut my voice off for several hard years, but I think it was only being tuned.
And we spend a lot in electricity, I think, because I have to rewash stinky, mildew-scented clothes and dewrinkle so many dryer loads.
I'm a writer! I love writing. I write as much as I can. Even when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about it (most of the time). When I read a book, I look at plot structure and characterization. When I experience something, I think of how I might write about that experience either for my blog, for my fiction, for my poetry, or for myself in a journal.
ReplyDeleteWriting is wonderful.
Hi Karen -
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I'm a writer. Whether it's a letter, a card, an email, a blog, a poem (don't tell anyone I said that), an article, a devotional, a book - I'm always writing something. I can't get away from it. It's entwined in my DNA.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hey, Karen, great post. I've been writing for as long as I can remember. And I assume that the voice in my head won't be quiet until I die. It's just always there!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a good day :)
Barb
www.barbarafrankonline.com
Karen:
ReplyDeleteI am a writer. The Lord made me comfortable with His calling for me. I prayed about how I would spend my time. I had a friend pray about it also. I haven't yet done anything financially noteworthy but I know I am doing what He wants of me.
The voices in my head never stop so I call myself a writer to keep the straight-jacket off!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post and you're right Shannon's post was hilarious!!
My love affair with writing began with a love of pens. Seriously! I love all manner of them, especially fined-tipped purple (go figure).
ReplyDeleteSo-o-o-o, when I began using my colorful pens (was I 5, or 10, or ???, I don't now recall), they simply worked best with colorful words & sentences. The rest is history.
What a fun blog to visit!
Hugs,
Kathleen
Jan,
ReplyDeleteThank you; you encourage me! I agree, affirmation is important in many areas, including in who we are in Jesus.
Susan,
One can tell by reading your blog that you enjoy writing. You can tell that you like photography too:)
Lynn,
You are a real writer! Isn't it a blessing to have such a great friendship and support?
Blessings to all of you,
Karen
Elana,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear that story someday. It's hard to think of you not as a writer, but you are many other valuable things too.
Diane,
You aren't just a blogger. I think of you as a writer:) as do many others, I'm sure.
Jeanette,
Love the run on sentence! Truly, the grammar police have been banned from my comments:) Like the way you talked about your writer's voice.
Terri,
There are so many great people, aren't there? I most certainly think of you as a writer!
Blessings to each of you,
Karen
Susanne,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being a Genesis Finalist! You are most certainly a writer in my book:)
Sandra,
Yay! Yes you are! I think no matter what we go through, we are still writers. Just being refined and polished.
Tyrean,
Yes, I have to agree, as we all here are! I can't read a book without considering all those elements too. Even movies - I catch the different elements there as well.
Blessings and happy weekend to all of you,
Karen
Susan R.,
ReplyDeleteWon't tell anyone that you mentioned POETRY in your comment! I think you are right, it IS in your DNA. Keep going, girl:)
Barb,
The voice in my head is always going, too. But this is a good thing, mostly:)
Cecelia,
I think that you are too. You should definitely consider yourself a writer!
Jen,
I know! And Shannon's post was great. I chuckled for a while after that, still do actually, when I think of it.
Thanks, my friends, for coming by to see me!
Karen
Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteThank you, I enjoy your blog too! I actually like pens too, and still kind of like the back-to-school season with all the new notebooks and pens and other goodies.
Blessings and hugs to you,
Karen
I'm a writer because I cannot not write. Ow! That sentence made my head hurt.
ReplyDeleteI write and just reading them gives me pleasure. Then, I seem to always find some way to make them worthwhile if only for the research involved. Roland
Roland,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. This writer's life has its challenges, but in the end, it's all good.
Have a great weekend,
Karen
I believe I'm called to write. I think God gave me this idea to write a toned down secular book (I never us God's name in vain or drop F-bombs). Its more than merely good triumphing over evil in the end. It will be clear its the Godd of the Christian-Judeo faith that triumphs in the end.
ReplyDeleteStephen tremp
I loved writing when I was a kid and really wrote a lot through high school and college. Then I went through 20 years of on and off--mostly off--writing. Now I've gone back into headlong. I call myself a writer-- next I want to be able to say I'm a paid writer.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds interesting. I may have to pick it up one of these days!
Lee,
One of these days it will happen. Just the icing on the cake!
Thanks to both of you for coming by.
Have a great weekend,
Karen
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteStop my my blog and pick up an award!
Hope you are having a great weekend!
I remember I went to my first writer's conference and I realized I was a writer! I compared what I did and thought about to everyone there and it was the same- published or not!
ReplyDeleteTyrean,
ReplyDeleteOkay, I will, thank you! :)
Jenn,
It is, and being published is just a minor technicality!
Have a blessed weekend, both of you:)
Karen
I try to be a writer. Lately I have been easily distracted (not necessarily easily - had 2 surgeries in my family this week. No writing at all this week except for lessons). But even when I am not writing I cannot shut off the writer's voice in my head. I have notes scribbled on anything and everything lying around.
ReplyDeleteWarren,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the scraps of paper everywhere. I get them organized every so often only to start all over again! Hope everyone in your family is doing well.
Have a great weekend,
Karen
Hi Karen! At only the first couple of lines of "You're a Writer If...", I laughed out loud! I have those note pads and pens on my nightstand, in my car, in my purse, in The Bathroom!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI also have little notes stacked here, there and everywhere. Recently, I read a great tip as how to organize those loose notes. Punch a hole in them, and keep them together on a notebook ring. I did it and it works! Great blog...I'm a follower!
Hi Karen, great post! I called myself a “lawyer” for a week before I quit my job and decided to call myself what I truly wished: a writer. But I think I’m at that “calling myself an aspiring writer” phase and need a little bit more time and experience before I can feel comfortable with calling myself “a writer”.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the great links :)
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have any marketing tips, really, but you seemed to have covered it well. :-)
ReplyDeleteBecky,
ReplyDeleteI know, me too! It was a great list. Thanks for coming by and saying hello:) Appreciate you becoming a follower, too.
Lua,
I am sure that you will get there in good time! Nice to meet you, and thanks for coming over!
Jessica,
Thanks! Always good to see you:)
Blessings to you all,
Karen
Hello Karen...I'd love some business cards! As you know, I'm one of your Followers. My e-mail address is www.writingstraightfromtheheart@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI need to do a LOT more marketing of my writing. I want to learn more about submitting things online. I do get ideas from other online writers, like yourself, and for that I'm very grateful.
I would also like to find a writers conference sometime this summer, within driving distance. Will have to check it out.
Take care and have a great day! Sincerely, Susan
This is always great to keep in mind. I'm not to the marketing portion, however I have to say I guess there is now really time to get down to it, you should always start early. I think you've just inspired me to check out a local conference or to enter a writing contest! I think it would be nice to get my name out there!!
ReplyDeleteKaren, thank you for these tips. I have a friend marketing her current book (not a blogger unfortunately) and I will pass this link along to her. I met her while she was marketing her book at Chapters-Canada's version of Barnes & Noble.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this most helpful post. I also enjoyed your prior post and its comments. I was a bit mixed up, but finally figured it out. I'm technologically challenged! So I'll add a comment here for both posts.
It's actually hard for me to say I'm a writer. I've been a speaker and teacher for years, but writing is new to me. There are definitely "voices in my head" screaming to be shared, but writing is a new avenue for me to express them. I like what Jan had to say - it's a confirmation to speak your calling out loud. I think I'll follow her example!
As for the marketing post - Thanks so much. Your tips and links were awesome! And I ran out of business cards this week. I really need to order new ones, so -yes- I'll enter your contest! I'm a follower, and very glad to be one. Thanks!
Susan
panzica(dot)susan(at)gmail(dot)com
ps - your book is on its way to me. I'll mail it out to you as soon as it arrives!
Oh yes, sign me up for this contest. I never thought of that but a business would be great! esp. since i'm going to a conference later this summer.
ReplyDeleteberendsen70(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm already a follower!
Margo,
ReplyDeleteI've added your name to the list! Hope you enjoy the conference:)
Blessings,
Karen
What a great contest! I hope this is the right post, but I would love to be entered to win business cards. It would be a great asset! I am a new follower. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!!
Email in profile.
Casey,
ReplyDeleteThis is just fine, so I've got you noted. Thanks for becoming a follower!
Blessings,
Karen