4 things you must do before you can call yourself a writer

There’s a lot of debate in the writing world about what really constitutes “being a writer.” This argument has been around for as long as writers have been around. Some will tell you that you simply need to write. For these people, the fact of writing regularly makes you a writer, in the same way that painting makes you a painter. Others will take it a bit further: they might tell you that you can’t be considered a writer until you’ve been published or until you have a readership.

Ray Bradbury said that to be a writer, you have to write 1,000 words a day, and you have to do it every day for three years straight. Drastic? Maybe, maybe not.

There are so many answers to the question “what makes a writer?” ask how there are people who write. But here are some suggestions for ways you can break the mold and start to feel like, and be seen as, a writer.

1) Write a batch

I can almost hear your sarcastic thoughts after reading the title of this section. “Write a lot. Got it. Any other momentous advice, genius?” But, seriously. You need to plan to write every day of your life. If you miss a day, don’t worry, but as a guide, you should write every day. What you write is not that important. Only write! Write about your day. Create a short story. Make a blog post. He closes his eyes and starts hitting the keyboard if necessary. As long as you are producing new words daily, you will continue to improve your writing skills.

2) Read a lot

Virtually all of the most successful writers in history were also avid readers. There are probably few if any exceptions to this rule. Stephen King says in his autobiography, “On Writing,” that he spends a minimum of four hours a day reading. That’s because reading gives you ideas, new perspectives, and constantly introduces you to different styles of writing that you can incorporate into your own work. You don’t have to read for four hours a day, but try to find enough time to read. It will reward you by improving your writing.

If I were forced to illustrate this point through analogy, I would say something like this: the chef is to eat what the writer is to read. And no, I’m not telling you to eat your books (bad joke). But how good a chef can you be if you’re not constantly trying different foods made by other chefs? That’s where your ideas come from. The same goes for writers.

(At this point, I think you can start calling yourself a writer. You’ve developed a strict and consistent regimen of reading and writing. You’re creating things. But if you’re looking for people who take you seriously, you… I’ll have to do more. There is where these next steps come in…)

3) Build an audience

What good is your writing if no one is around to read it? Sure, keeping a private journal or writing stories for oneself can be quite satisfying for a number of reasons, but writers usually produce words for other people to read. The more, the better. And if you want to make a living doing this, having readers is absolutely essential. It will also help you get your name out there and be perceived as a writer. Whether you’re starting a blog or publishing a book, your writing needs attention.

4) Earn money

Some people won’t consider you a true writer unless you get paid for your work. It may not be fair, but for the most part, it’s true. If your goal is to be perceived by society as a professional writer or author, you need to sell some work. And don’t worry, you don’t have to publish the next great American novel to do that. If you are making money from your blog or selling articles or sales letters to companies, you, my friend, are a writer.