Member-only story
The Chances Are, Getting People to Take You Seriously as a Professional Writer Isn’t as Important as You Imagine
Why you write counts more than what anyone thinks about you
Getting people to see you as an actual writer if you are one, isn’t always easy. They have specific ideas about what constitutes a genuine professional. If you don’t fit the mold, they are liable to toss their heads and dismiss your silly notion about being a real writer.
Strange, isn’t it? If you plumbed, you’d have no trouble insisting you were a plumber. No one would question you if you were paid to cut hair, even part-time, and referred to yourself as a stylist. Of course not. No wonder you might show concern if people frown when you say you’re a writer.
Emerging writers often feel it’s essential to be seen as professionals and display their writer tag socially. The first time they go to a party, though, and someone asks what they do, their answer — “well, actually, I write” — might elicit the response:
“How many books have you written?” Or “have I read anything of yours?”
All’s well if you have written a few best-sellers (especially if they’re in print rather than digital). Many writers, however, don’t write hardbacks or screenplays. They create online…
