Last week, in “Four Steps to Becoming a Writer,” I mentioned the guy who said, “All my life I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I wasn’t writing.”
My story’s the opposite. All my life I was writing, but I only recently knew I wanted to be a writer. So I went to work to become one:
- I started blogging.
- I read books about writing.
- I attended writers’ conferences.
- I followed blogs about writing.
- I joined a critique group.
- I became friends with other writers.
But none of these made me feel like a writer, so I started acting like one.
- I wrote every day.
- I developed a professional website.
- I started this blog about writing.
- I had a professional headshot taken.
- I spoke about writing.
- I ordered business cards.
- I staked my claim on social media sites.
But the turning point came when I started calling myself a writer. At that moment a switch flipped in my brain. All these steps aided in my journey, but it wasn’t until I said it aloud that I actually believed it.
“Hi, I’m Peter, and I’m a writer. How about you?”
Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.