It took me a long time to call myself a writer. It felt presumptuous for a number of reasons, and I harbored a real imposter syndrome for a long time. Now that I write and have done for enough time that the writer identity feels fully integrated along with all my other selves, a rule and truth that’s undeniable no matter external measures of success, I can easily call myself a writer.
But now it’s taking me even longer to call myself an author. I think it has to do with not being published. It may be silly, and it’s certainly not how I measure anyone else who uses the term, but for me, I don’t know that I’ll feel like one until I’m published.
Until then, the term that’s easiest to identify other’s in my position, those pursuing publication but are not there yet, is aspiring author. And I’ve decided I want to meet more of them.
Writing is a lonely business and querying and submission can be even lonelier. Especially for those of us who are worried that by talking about the ups or downs that it jinxes the whole nebulous process (ridiculous, but I can’t help it!)
Plus, it helps immensely to have a writing tribe who are also going through the trenches of querying, submission, the highs of requests and the lows of rejections. A group of people who get it, who I can learn from and lean on and vice versa.
So! I came up with an aspiring author challenge on Instagram to help find all my fellow aspiring authors who are going through it.
If you’re an aspiring author and this sounds appealing to you, come follow along and use the daily prompts to post more about yourself, your writing, your process. I’d love to hear about it and I’d love to share mine with you. Follow the hashtag #aspiringauthorlove to find more aspiring authors just like us!
Let me know if you’re going to join up, and I can’t wait to meet you!
xo
Brimming 