Now I’d choke a bit at calling myself an author, yes I’ve (self) published a book, and have a novel coming out in November. But it takes more than one book to make an author, right? *eyeroll* People can be damn silly at times, can’t we?

Bolaji – Thank you for commenting on Lav’s post. Discipline eludes many of us in different areas.

I know that experience of the surges and moments ending up in tweets or comments, rather than going for sustained writing – or as you say, a ‘salient, coherent piece’. That takes more time. Duration. And for me a marinating period when I let the piece chill, add flour to my hands if it were dough, so it doesn’t stick.

Yes… that old brainwashing – writing is a hobby not a profession. We have a strong freelancer community in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, and many of them are earning a living writing articles, book chapters and ghost writing books. And there are corporate writing jobs as well.

Still the pursuit of some longer articles than comments is so important, and I’m having to make that a priority myself. — Anora McGaha

Susan, thank you so much for commenting. So many hesitate to call themselves writers because they think only people who are paid for writing are writers.

But, as you say, if they like to write, they can call themselves writers.

Writing does give the soul freedom, especially if writing about what matters deeply to us. — Anora McGaha

Lovely comment Ulrike. I find if I don’t have pen and paper with me, I get a little frantic. I’ve asked waiters and waitresses for pens, and am always writing on paper napkins, the backs of paper placemats, paper hand towels. You’d think I’d know to always have paper on me. And mostly I do.

You are lucky to have started your habit early. I’m hopeful that where there’s a will and a dream, there’s a way.

–Anora McGaha, Editor

i have surges and moments in time when all i can think to do is write. these days i’m more apt to tweet or comment on a topic i find interesting as opposed to sitting down and putting my thoughts into a salient coherent piece.

growing up, i knew that i always wanted to be a writer, but i was told that writing was a hobby and that i needed to get a profession. this has always stuck with me. and even though i now have all the encouragement i need to go forth and write, that little bugaboo sticks to the back of my head.

I would rather throw those sorts of titles out the window. Writing should be celebrated because of the freedom it gives the soul. If we start trapping ourselves into corners worrying about the next pay check, we will never get started.