To Be A Writer

Writing.

What does it mean?

Putting pencil to paper, finger to keyboard, mind to soul.

Writing is about expressing yourself. It's about pouring your heart and soul, your blood, sweat and tears into your writing, and then standing back and seeing it reach the top. So if this is what writing is, then what does it mean to be a writer?

I am a writer. No, I'm not afraid to say it. Ally, who is a super awesome writer and blogger, inspired me with her post (here).

People are afraid. More specifically, writers are afraid. One thing that comes along with being a writer is being judged easily. From you to your book, people will try to judge, because it's human nature.

If you met someone who said they were an artist, what would you think? I think that most people would go to the stereotypical image of a lain-back, messy, hippie person with a closet filled with paint splattered clothes. But what does it mean to be an artist? Writing is an art, so we can call ourselves artists even when we're the opposite of the stereotype.

The opinion of others is basically the hardest thing to face in writing. You can go through long, hard hours of editing. You can sprain your fingers from all that typing. But eventually it comes to this.

Your writing is your child. On the first day of school, you want it to look beautiful, and to be well-liked. But sometimes they are bullied, and come home crying. So how do you face that?

You believe.

Yes, as cheesy as it sounds, you have to believe in your novel. If you hadn't believed it would make it in the first place, why did you write it?

So remember what it was like before you started writing this. Remember to back when you just had a glimpse of a mysterious wisp of an idea. Remember.

Other's opinions do matter, though. They tell you if there's anything that you oversaw. They're your backup eyes, helping you. But it depends on you whether you want to accept that help or not.

Now, you know what scares people about writing, when you're a writer. But what will most people think when someone says that he/she is a writer.

Writing? Why in the world is that child writing when she/he should be studying?! Finals are in three months!

Oh dear. Did you just say you're a writer? I hope you're not serious. Who has time to read anymore? All you kids with your new, shiny gadgets! No one reads! They're all too busy shoving their heads into digital screens!

You? A writer? Who'd you think you are, kid? J.K. Rowling? You're not even old enough to vote, what do you know 'bout writing?

This is what no one ever wants to hear. No one wants to be told they can't follow their dreams, and that is exactly what it is. But instead of being hurt by this, you should take it as a challenge, proving to whoever says these things that you can make it!

Because being a writer is hard work. People taunt and tease, but you have to go on through life, and you write. You write your feelings away, until you're lost in another world, or are in the future, or are on a quest to save the world, or something like that.

Writing hurts, but at the end, you're the one that's in the spotlight.

Who wants to be a writer now?

I'll post soon,

Anjali