What do you say?
December 14th 2006 11:18
When someone asks you what you do, what do you say?
Do you say, ‘I’m a writer’ or ‘I’m a poet’ or do you tell them you are a: Welder, Hairdresser, Checkout chick, etc.
Do you hesitate trying to decide what to say. Are you afraid to tell people that you write poetry, fantasy, science fiction, romance.
Would it be different if you could say ‘Oh, I write for the Times’.
Do you always add a qualifier when you say you re a writer.
“I’m a writer, well, I’m a hairdresser trying to be a writer.”
Let’s cut to the chase here. Are you a writer?
Being a writer is being an artist, if you are an artist, that’s it. You are. You might work at any other job to keep food in your belly. It doesn’t matter what job you work at to keep yourself alive. You can be a hairdresser this week and stop being a hairdresser next week.
But, if you are an artist you can’t just stop being an artist. Yes you can stop doing the art, but you can’t stop being an artist. It will always show through in everything you do.
If you try to suppress the artist you risk your mental and physical health.
I have worked as a welder for years, but I’m an artist. I have worked as a solar power consultant, but I’m an artist.
Today, when someone asks me what I do I look them in the eye and say “I’m a writer”.
And I feel good.
Do you say, ‘I’m a writer’ or ‘I’m a poet’ or do you tell them you are a: Welder, Hairdresser, Checkout chick, etc.
Do you hesitate trying to decide what to say. Are you afraid to tell people that you write poetry, fantasy, science fiction, romance.
Would it be different if you could say ‘Oh, I write for the Times’.
Do you always add a qualifier when you say you re a writer.
“I’m a writer, well, I’m a hairdresser trying to be a writer.”
Let’s cut to the chase here. Are you a writer?
Being a writer is being an artist, if you are an artist, that’s it. You are. You might work at any other job to keep food in your belly. It doesn’t matter what job you work at to keep yourself alive. You can be a hairdresser this week and stop being a hairdresser next week.
But, if you are an artist you can’t just stop being an artist. Yes you can stop doing the art, but you can’t stop being an artist. It will always show through in everything you do.
If you try to suppress the artist you risk your mental and physical health.
I have worked as a welder for years, but I’m an artist. I have worked as a solar power consultant, but I’m an artist.
Today, when someone asks me what I do I look them in the eye and say “I’m a writer”.
And I feel good.
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Comment by theadora
at the boardroom
Ad Magnum Opus
so many industrial jobs have such mundane and meaningless natures, i find it difficult to stay in any one of them for any stretch of time.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Finally, I decided: this is me. This is who I am and who I want to be. So I started catagorising myself as a writer. I think it helped when I managed to score myself a casual job writing articles for websites. Someone else (other than my family) had shown appreciation for my art and I liked that.
If you don't think of yourself as a writer, how can you be one?
Good question, Bulla.
A.H.
Comment by Bullamakanka
Hughie's Ziff
Bagman's Gazette
I feel that I have done everyone of those jobs. God, don't they just suck.
Thanks for the comment.
Be happy, be a writer.
George
Comment by Bullamakanka
Hughie's Ziff
Bagman's Gazette
I've been a Mexican cook, a welder, a boilermaker, a builder and a hydraulic fitter. I failed English as often as not in school. Several years ago I discovered that I could write.
Suddenly I understood my life.
Hot damn, I'm a writer. I can make a difference.
It doesn't matter what you do to live, it matters what you are in your heart.
Thank you for your comment.
George