I am a Writer Because I Write
That’s it! I am a writer because I write. Everything I’ve learned about writing is that if you believe you are a writer, then you are. But what does being a writer mean? What does a writer do other than write? Good questions. Here is a list of four reasons why I am a writer.
I am a writer
I Write Because I am a Writer
I was laid off from my techie position at an international food company in August 2015. It came at a time when my partner was coming home from the hospital from knee replacement surgery. I saw this an opportunity to stay home with her as she recuperated while I decided what my options were. Little did I realize that I would become a writer.
During this time, I worked on my memoir that I had started years earlier. My writing skills were mostly in technical writing, so I read books, took online classes and joined writing groups to learn how to write for a different audience. I began writing fiction, shared my stories with others and learned about editing and critiquing; My passion turned to writing.
The most important thing I learned was to believe I was a writer. At my age and with my experiences, I had a lot to say, and the best way to share my stories was by writing. I decided to become a full-time writer. And with that came the goal to publish my work.
I Learned New Skills Because I am a Writer
That led to learning about the publishing world. It is probably obvious to everyone that Amazon has changed how we read, buy and sell books. That opens up more options for writers – self-publishing, traditional publishing or some hybrid of the two. What that means for writers is that we need to learn how to do the tasks that had been done by traditional publishers to make a decision about the path that is right for each author.
In addition to my writing, I decided to learn about self-publishing, creating an author platform (that’s what you’re reading now), blogging, content development, digital marketing, search engine optimization and designing book covers to name a few of my new skills. I also went to writing conferences to meet publishers, agents, and editors.
I Read Because I am a Writer
One of the best resources for every writer is reading. I almost went broke the first three months I was home from buying books – both print and eBooks. I read fiction and non-fiction, books by established and newly published authors, books on writing, memoir, marketing, sales and everything else that is necessary in today’s literary world. Needless to say, I am never bored.
I Blog Because I am a Writer
One of the tasks that a writer needs to do is create an author platform where the writer gets to introduce themselves to you. I will be sharing what I have learned during my experience of becoming a writer. My hope is that you will enjoy what I share with you. If you like what you read, share it with others. And please leave a comment if you have any questions or would like more information about any of the topics on this site.