When I first started this blog with dreams of somehow inching my way into the world of writing, I never thought of myself as a “writer.”
Flickr/deathtiny42
I labeled myself on my “about me” page as a wanna-be writer. I apologized and hemmed and hawed and did everything in my power to play off the fact that I desperately, desperately wanted to be seen as a professional.
All my writing idols-Tara of The Young Mommy Life and Meagan Francis of The Happiest Mom encouraged me to let go of my apologetic, wanna-be attitude.
They emphasized the point that if I wanted to be seen as a professional, I needed to take myself seriously first.
And it made sense.
But I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I left up my “wanna-be writer” title; I was hesitant and afraid. I continued to act like editors were granting me a favor by allowing me to write for them.
But now?
Now that I have successfully arrived to the point where I feel that I have “made” it as a writer-a book deal and national publications-I still struggle with being seen as a “writer.”
Well, I’m not a “real” writer, I think. Sure, I have a book deal, but it’s a small publisher!
Oh, that article? Just in the right place at the right time!
But yesterday, I took down the gimmicks and the excited exclamation points when I listed my writing clips. I cleaned out the list, making it clean and matter-of-fact. No, ohmygosh I can’t believe I was published here attitude for me.
Not anymore.
Because the one thing I have learned along the way is that nothing magical happened to my writing over the course of the two years I have been chasing this dream.
I didn’t transform into a professional writer.
There was no pumpkin carriage or spell cast.
The only thing that separated me from a wanna-be to a published writer…
Was me.
Succeeding as a writer really is all about hard work, perseverance, dedication, a little bit of luck, and…
Believing in yourself.
Great Job Chaunie! I’ve been admiring your steps towards your dream as you’ve been publishing new articles etc. ESPECIALLY having just brought baby #3 home. My writing time seems to be decreasing incrementally lately and with the baby on the way I’m not sure what to do with that…put it all aside or keep pressing forward. Thanks for the encouragement!
You too Lisa, I love following your journey too! 🙂
This is so helpful - I’ve just started exploring free lance writing, so it’s encouraging to see how other people did it. I’m really looking forward to the class!
This is great! I’m so super excited for all I’ll be learning in your class.
so exciting!!! I’m in the “wannabe” stage right now too. But I’ve dreamed of being a writer since I was a kid. . .
I need to talk to my hubby about your class. I SO want to take it, but we’re saving for a house right now, so I’m not sure :/
About how much time per week is it going to take up? I have 2 tiny kids, so I want to make sure I’m able to commit to it if I do it. but ooooh I want to! I’ve already started on my book, but I’d like all the help I can get to make it AMAZING.
another question… how do you get to freelance for babble and the bump? Do you just email them with a post, or is there a more formal way to go about it? I would love to write a post or two for either (or both), but I don’t want to go about it the wrong way and seem like an amateur…
I needed this. Thank you! 🙂
Thanks! You’re a role model for me, so I’m glad I get to hear what goes on internally for you isn’t so different from a mere mortal like me 😉
Ha! If you only knew me in real life, my friend!!