I suspect we’ve all said it; describing ourselves as being ‘just’ something. Shrugging off our achievements with a ‘just’.
For a long time I was a published writer, but ‘just’ poetry. ‘Just’ on webzines. Then I got short stories into anthologies, but I was ‘just’ a short story writer, with nothing of my own.
In May this year, I released my debut novella, and I also made another big decision. I changed all of my website branding from saying ‘writer’ to ‘author’. There are some people out there who see this as a tiny, flippant thing, but most of the writers I speak to see this as a huge self-affirming step in their career. Some still don’t dare take it.
The thing is though, I still felt like a fraud. Why? Because it’s ‘just’ a novella, and it’s ‘just’ an ebook. I still didn’t feel, in my heart, like a real author.
Something changed all that. And it’s this:
Everyone has their own self-imposed targets, their own milestones that they have to hit in order to feel like they can move on to the next level. And this was mine. When I finally held my own paperback in my hand, I no longer felt like a fraud. I can finally hold my head high, and say “Yes, I am an author.”
Wonderful, Angeline and congratulations on taking that step. We really do have different definitions of success.
It’s true, and hammers home the fact that you can never rate your own success by comparing yourself to someone else. We’re all on our own journey, because we all had different starting lines, and we all have different finish lines too.
I had never really thought about the distinction between author and writer. Very interesting. Well done on making the transition 🙂
It’s such a funny thing: a huge deal to some, and nothing to others.
Congratulations! I’ve only had one of my works printed and it felt wonerful to hold it in my hands. I’m and author and a writer. Anyone who says otherwise may do so, but I am what I am. 🙂
And that’s the important thing; to define yourself. Never let other people tell you what you are.
It is the greatest feeling to hold your very own book! Congratulations!
My husband gets upset with me when I leave him a voice mail and say “It’s just me ” He says you will never be ‘just ‘ to me. Love that guy!
That ‘just’ word is a funny one; so small, so easy to slip into a sentence without noticing, but so full of meaning (and demeaning too!)
Congratulations on recognizing your accomplishments. It’s a big deal!
Best wishes,
Diane
IWSG #85
Thank you Diane.
Congratulations on getting your novella out there…and claiming your rightful title of “author.”
Recently I put my latest WIP into Autocrit to clean up weak language, repetition, etc. I was appalled at the number of time “just” snuck into the manuscript. It’s so much more powerful without that word in it!
Haha, we need to ban that word altogether, I think!
Funny. “Just” is the one of the first overused words I remove from my work. I vote that you delete it from your life. 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
Definitely!
Great post! I agree, if you published a book, put author on there! The imposter syndrome is so fierce. I feel it all the time. One of the best pieces of advice I heard early on was to take “aspiring writer” off your bio and say “writer.” If you are writing, you are not aspiring to do it, you are doing it.
Congrats on your release!
Imposter syndrome is a terrible affliction. I know it’ll still creep into my life at times in the future, but for now, I’m happy to be rid of it.
We really are our worst critics 🙂
Good for you, Angeline, for taking the next step in YOUR career and for moving the bar onto your next challenge 🙂
“Break a keyboard!”
Best regards,
Mark, (official slacker, IWSG co-host and author 🙂
We truly are. But that’s not always a bad thing.
Congratulations! I had a very similar post not long ago, and it’s so true. We label ourselves in such limiting ways.
We do. In every aspect of our lives.
I still feel weird saying I’m an author or even a writer at times. Probably because it wasn’t something I’d thought I’d ever say.
Own it!
This reminds me of my first college writing professor, who said never to use the word “just” in our writing.
For some reason, that’s one of the few things I still remember about college writing class.
Congratulations on reaching your personal goal/milestone and feeling like a full-fledged author. Because you are!
The hardest person to satisfy is always ourself, isn’t it?
You were never “just” anything, but there’s something magical about having that tangible thing in your hands. Be proud of it!
You’re so right. And from the reactions of my friends and family that tangible thing is far more impressive than an ebook for them too.
No, that’s a big deal. You are a published author now. And you were with the short stories.
This will amuse you – one of my co-hosts listed you as not posting this month. I knew better though!!!! Not deleting you again unless I am 200% sure.
Haha! Though, thinking about it, my url may be wrong on the list now. I’ll drop you an email to get it changed.
“Just” is such a little word, but removing it from our self-definitions can have a huge impact. Congrats on managing it. 🙂