#39: ARE YOU A WRITER OR AN ASPIRING WRITER?

When I officially decided to be a writer in 2018, I started calling myself an aspiring writer. I even uploaded my profile across social platforms with the tag “aspiring writer”. 

In fact, when people addressed me as a writer, I usually said “No, I'm not a writer. I just want to be a writer someday. I'm just an aspiring writer.”

In its truest sense, I meant what I said. Why? My guess: I want to become a published writer someday but since I'm far from that, for the meantime, I'm just a random guy out there who is working towards becoming a writer.

What a belittling perspective! 

That was me sabotaging myself under the notion of being humble. 

Okay, yes. I was just starting out as nothing. And going by my dictionary's definition of aspiring, I'm, well, you may call it—an aspiring writer—someone who is not yet a writer but is working towards becoming one. 

But let's call a spade a spade. That very moment I made up my mind that I'm going to chase a career in writing, I officially became a writer. I became a writer because I wrote, wrote and wrote right to this very day.

The day you make up your mind to become a poet, and then you follow it up with action, my friend, you're a poet.

The day you decide to be a novelist and then you start putting ink to paper penning down creative stories, you're a novelist.

Enough of this self-limiting tags we carry around like damn stickers on our foreheads. 

Come to think of it. If you're an aspiring writer, when will you graduate and become the real thing?

Is it when you publish a book that you'll start you calling yourself a writer? I guess so. But here's a little secret: if you think you're an aspiring writer, chances are even if you publish a dozen books, you'll still feel as though you've not reached a point in which you're truly a writer. 

I might not be a published writer today. But that doesn't mean I'm not a writer. That doesn't also mean I won't publish a book someday and, well, became famous. (Just saying. Who knows anyway?)

Truth is, if you're a writer, you're a writer. Saying “no I'm an aspiring writer” is just you trash-talking yourself into a self-sabotaging cycle. 

One that your subconscious mind will leverage on and even help you in feeling as though you aren't that capable of the job.

The point is, you have to make up your mind first that you're a full-fledged writer before you'll even start seeing yourself as one.

Nonetheless, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of your constraints. Neglecting that and acting as though you have no inadequacies as a new writer would be you signing your death sentence. 

So here's it: drop that belittling title, aspiring. Gladly beat your chest and call yourself a writer in its truest meaning. Nevertheless, work hard in seeing that you learn all the key lessons that'll make you a better writer.

Yes, you. You're a writer. And since you're a writer, make sure you do act like one by writing as much and as best as you can.