You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Call Yourself a Writer

One of the biggest struggles newer writers (and some experienced writers as well) often have is feeling comfortable calling themselves a writer. They skirt around directly calling themselves one by saying things like “I like to write,” or “I’m an aspiring writer.” And it might seem like a small detail, but one of the first questions I ask any new coaching client is: Are you comfortable calling yourself a writer?

The reason I focus in on this question is because it offers insight into where an individual is on their writing journey—mentally and emotionally. If they struggle to claim the title of writer, they’re likely still battling some self-limiting beliefs about their abilities and what it means to be a writer that will pose challenges for them in the writing process.

What Makes Someone a Writer?

When talking with a client who is struggling to call themselves a writer, I begin by asking them what makes someone a writer. It sounds like a silly, simple question, but you’d be surprised how often answering it triggers a lightbulb for someone struggling with this.

A writer is simply someone who writes. And yet, claiming that title becomes difficult because of the associated assumptions we carry. We tend to have a vision in our heads of what a “real writer” looks like. Often, that vision entails a person whose sole source of income is from writing books who spends 40 hours at their writing desk.

But this is where the trouble lies: most writers’ lives do not look like that idealized vision we have of what a writing life looks like. So, by telling ourselves that’s what we need to achieve to earn the right to call ourselves a writer, we’re setting ourselves up for failure.

If you write, you’re a writer. Whether you write every day without another job, or you write once a week in between your other obligations, or even if you’re in a season of life where not much physical writing is happening…you’re still a writer. And there’s power in recognizing that and claiming the title without hesitation.

The Harm in Waiting for Permission

The other struggle with claiming the title of writer is that, for the most part, this isn’t a title someone else will give us. We need to claim it for ourselves. And that provides the perfect scenario for imposter syndrome to rear its ugly head.

While other titles, like doctor, accountant, or parent, come with distinct prerequisites that allow an individual to claim that title, being a writer is different. There’s no gatekeeper anointing us as writers. Instead, we’re free to claim that title as we see fit. And yet, ironically, it seems to be this exact situation that keeps so many writers from confidently calling themselves writers. After all, how do you know when you’re officially a “writer?”

But unlike so many other things in our lives, claiming the title of writer doesn’t require a permission slip from anyone but us. And yet, we often circle around the label, afraid that others will call us out for being frauds should we dare to call ourselves one. We tell ourselves we’ll finally “feel” like a writer when we’ve finished a manuscript, when we land an agent, when we have a published book in our hands…even though we’ve been doing the one thing that qualifies us as writers all along: writing.

But by waiting for outside circumstances to dictate when we’re allowed to call ourselves writers, we’re inadvertently setting up a self-fulfilling prophecy. By telling ourselves we’re not writers yet, we’re less likely to show up regularly and put in the work. We’re telling ourselves our work is “less than” those of other people who are rightfully calling themselves writers even if we’re doing the exact same work.

By not confidently claiming the title of writer, we’re sending ourselves the quiet message that our writing isn’t as important as the other titles we claim. We’re setting ourselves up for mental obstacles each time we sit down to write. And if you sit down to a writing session having to battle your own thoughts instead of being free to pour your creativity onto the page, the process is going to be that much harder.

Shifting Your Mindset

While I think most people cognitively understand that a writer is someone who writes, investing in that belief emotionally and gaining the confidence to call yourself a writer often presents a challenge.

It can feel uncomfortable to call ourselves writers, but that discomfort only comes from a self-limiting belief we hold about what it means to claim that title. To identify that self-limiting belief, pay attention to the thoughts that come up when you tell yourself or someone else you’re a writer. Are you telling yourself you’re a fraud because you’re not earning money from your writing? Do your thoughts tell you that you sound pretentious—after all, your writing isn’t good enough to qualify as “real” writing? Whatever thoughts bubble up for you in these moments are clues to what underlying beliefs are interfering with your ability to confidently claim this title.

Once you begin to identify your underlying self-limiting beliefs, you can then work to counter them. When these thoughts come up, remind yourself of the reasons they’re not true. If you believe you’re not a writer because you don’t earn money from your writing, remind yourself that all writers began by writing without pay—everyone has to start somewhere. If you believe your writing isn’t as good as others’, remind yourself that everyone’s writing is different—one style of writing isn’t inherently better or worse than any other. Working to consistently counter these beliefs as they come up takes effort, but the more you do it, the easier it will become, and doing so robs them of their power.

Once you begin to combat these beliefs, the best way to become comfortable calling yourself a writer is to practice. Tell yourself you’re a writer. Tell others. Try your best to share this title without qualifying it—without saying “I’m a writer, but…” The more you say it, the more you’ll believe it. And once you confidently believe you’re a writer, the easier it will be to regularly show up at your writing desk, put in the work, and make progress toward your writing goals.

Acknowledging that writers are simply people who write is one thing; confidently embracing that title for yourself is another. While it can feel uncomfortable to claim that title, both to ourselves and to others, remember that the discomfort you feel comes from your own faulty beliefs about what qualifies someone to be a writer. Once you begin combating those beliefs, calling yourself a writer will become easier—and in turn, so will your writing journey.