“There’s a waiter in a busy bistro café called Joel. Joel is an actor….”
“You just said he was a waiter!”
“Yeh, he is but he goes for auditions, gets extra work in films and he’s waiting for his big break”.
“Ok…. so he’s a waiter not an actor then”.
“No! he’s an actor, because he acts. Waiting on tables is just his side hustle to pay the bills”.
“Yeh but…. he’s not Morgan Freeman! He waits tables so you can’t really call him an actor!”
Is this similar to a conversation you’ve had at all?
I have been writing since I was a child. I’ve had poems published in several anthologies, am always doing creative writing courses, I did a creative writing degree at University and I try to write every day. However, to pay my bills I am self-employed with a “main income” and a side hustle on etsy. Neither income is particularly thrilling to me but I enjoy them. Writing has always been my passion.
However, recently, I have been encouraged, strongly, to call myself a writer because I write. “You’ve been published therefore, you’re a writer”.
Writing brings me joy, lately, Japanese poetry like Haiku’s or, writing pieces for online platforms on a myriad of topics. Creativity is who I am but my other sources of income are just to help me live the life I want. Don’t define me by them.
So, I put the question to you: would you call a writer a writer if they had small, irregular publications but are not yet Paulo Coelho? Where’s the line? Is there even a line?
I’m a very spiritual person and I love manifesting and angels, meditation, positive thinking and so on. I believe what you put out into the universe comes back to you. However, on the flip side, negativity and hatred can also bring that darkness into our lives.
If you believe in something, your energy vibrates and you subconsciously manifest opportunities and like-minded people into your life as a consequence of believing.
By calling yourself a writer, (or an actor for example), you’re manifesting the reality.
Let’s talk about imposter syndrome now.
Around 25 to 30 percent of high achievers may suffer from imposter syndrome. And around 70 percent of adults may experience impostorism at least once in their lifetime, research suggests. https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.psychologytoday.com%2Fgb%2Fbasics%2Fimposter-syndrome%23understanding-imposter-syndrome
So, you call yourself a writer but you’re not Sylvia Plath yet. You try hard to believe and manifest but at random moments of the day, little demons creep into your ear whispering, “who the hell do you think you’re kidding?!” or, “if you really were a writer you’d dedicate 24/7 to it!” And so your negativity takes over.
Alternatively, you’re at a gathering and you get introduced to someone who ask’s what you do. “I’m a writer”. The words slip out of your mouth so easily so why do you feel awkward calling yourself this?
Usually, people are interested at you being a writer. “Any books I’d have seen in the stores?” they ask. You mention you’ve had poems published in anthologies, but they are only available online. With positivity and enthusiasm you mention you’ve got a book in draft form or that you’re working on some more poetry.
And then it happens: the eye-glaze and the polite smile. You’ve lost their attention. You think, “I’m never calling myself a writer again! Who do I think I am?!”
Does imposter syndrome ever grip you?
Ultimately, I think the power of believing in ourselves is what we need to do more of, even when others question our identity. If we’re feeling the passion and the drive then that can give us the strength to continue and succeed in life, despite how others see us.
So, if the actor is a waiter but he’s acting then he’s an actor! He has a passion in life. What’s your passion?
I’d love to hear your comments on this!
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