I’m a storyteller at heart. I always have been since I can remember. This is how I began leaning into writing and storytelling as a way of furthering my career. It is my belief that everyone was created to create. 

If that sentiment is true and if individuals experience childhoods that allow it, they’ll become “creators” at a young age.

Hopefully, I’m not the only one who used to fill up blank pieces of paper with gel pen fashion designs or set up fairytale photoshoots with my sisters when I was little.

How about filming fashion shows on the family video camera? I recall creating my own radio shows with actual tapes and stereos that had recording functions.

The bliss of writing and storytelling

I love telling stories. It’s such a blessing that my family encouraged it. Whether it was writing a song on the piano and listening to me perform or taping my original poetry on the wall, my family was supportive. Creative energy really flows within me.

I posted in Creatives With Day Jobs about how post-graduate life swept me off my feet. Being a creative soul was put on the back burner.

My heart hurts when I think about the years I lost chasing a paycheck, just to go home and watch TV or socialize with friends at a bar.

I love doing those things, but I neglected my inner storyteller by prioritizing those things.

Now, I am a writer, social media coordinator, events planner, and so much more. At what point does one consider themselves to be a writer?

Is it when you can type 100 words per minute with no mistakes? Is it when the first draft is the final draft? Or does it mean your name is in the credits of the latest hit movie as “writer”?

I agree with The Write Life, which states you are a writer NOW – and you should be privately telling yourself this already.

If it’s true that we were created to create, you’re already a writer because you have a unique story to tell.

To publicly declare that you are a writer, my opinion is this… Have some form of published work or prove that you are seriously working on a piece that will eventually be published.

“[Writing] is like learning an instrument, you’ve got to be prepared for hitting the wrong notes occasionally, or quite a lot, cause I wrote an awful lot before I wrote anything I was really happy with.” — J.K. ROWLING

This quote inspired me, and after a few read-throughs, I am on my second version. I’m sure it won’t be the last.

Do you have any works in progress? Have you been wanting to start? Let me know in the comments!