A writer by any other name…
It’s funny how we often define ourselves according to those around us. Many times we do this subconsciously, not because anyone particular has even made us feel that way. It’s just easy to label ourselves and friends according to where we fall in the pecking order rather than on merit alone. Being a person who has always been surrounded by people who self-identify as writers, I rarely thought of myself as one. This, in spite of the fact, that I have always taken up the pen in many different forms. Not only did I do well in English and Journalism, but I even wrote a few little books when I was in school (nothing remarkable, but they were completed).
I suppose a big part of the reason I neglected this title is that I have always first identified as a music lover. Music has always been my driving passion and even when I was young I thought more about singing than songwriting. I didn’t even know I had the capability to write songs until I took up guitar in my early 20s, so the two were not always synonymous with me. Even as I began writing scores of songs it still never occurred to me to call myself a “writer”. It was just music.
Still, I continued writing in many different forms, including journaling and blogging. In my deepest need to express thoughts and emotions, I have found writing to be an incredible outlet for me. Of course, the impact is made greater when coupled with music, but sometimes you need more words than a song has to offer…more precise words.
I also have a deep appreciation for great storytelling. In fact, it is part of my mark as a songwriter. I love to use a good narrative to provoke empathy, even if it’s only within a few verses. I also enjoy helping other writers develop their storylines more effectively when invited to do so. It has the ability to inspire the imagination and put the reader in the mind of another person.
I love the beauty of language. The ability to express oneself more effectively by replacing one word or forming a clever turn of phrase. I delight in the art of poetry, to fully capture the essence of a moment in time or elevate thoughts using rhythmical composition. It requires a great deal of creativity to do it well, something a person can never master, only improve over time.
As a person who is fierce in her beliefs, but also expressive in her thoughts, I appreciate writing for its ability to enact change. By simply composing a well thought out argument or appeal for a cause, you can influence not only the people in your immediate circle, but in places we could never dream of reaching people’s minds! I have opened many discussions with people I didn’t even know simply by commenting on a news story or sharing my perspective on social media. With the power of the internet, we can’t begin to imagine how far our words will travel if we simply have the courage to be vulnerable!
And that’s really what being a writer is all about to me…the willingness to be vulnerable for a cause greater than yourself. And that can be done effectively in many forms. So while I may not be the greatest writer in the world, or even the greatest writer I know, I am a writer nonetheless. I am a writer because I am compelled to write in the exploration for truth. I think writing requires little else, except perhaps some good editing skills, of course (and a little help from Grammarly). So there you have it…I’M A WRITER. What hidden passion do you have that it’s time to own?
“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.”
— Virginia Woolf
