I’m intrigued by the zigs and the zags of your story. This one resonated for me, it took me years to be able to call myself a writer even though I’ve written my whole life. Still emerging. As they say…
Thank you for this. I have been thinking a lot about the meanings of the language we use, and I am honestly not sure how I feel about the word or concept of "emerging" as it relates to being an "emerging writer." I wonder if there is another word that might feel more powerful...
I’m with you on the discomfort with “emerging” though it seems to be the descriptive of choice for unpublished (or underpublished) writers in the lit community. It feels like it is aimed at the soft underbelly of my imposter syndrome.
Oh, I know... I'm definitely a writer who could be considered "emerging" but I choose not to engage with that concept because it doesn't call me into my power and therefore doesn't serve me. "Aimed at the soft underbelly of my imposter syndrome" -- what a great way to put it! By all means, let's apply for emerging writer opportunities when it serves us to do so, but we don't need to let anyone else tell us who or what we ARE. You are a writer who has written your whole life. Period. Full stop. You are a writer.
Yay!!! Congratulations, that is so wonderful! I love The Velveteen Rabbit! If I recall correctly, the story teaches us that love can make us real. But it suggests we need another's love to do this. Sometimes it happens that way but it doesn't need to. Our love for ourselves can also be just as magical and transformative. 💜 Oh, I'm so excited for your grandmother journey!
It's true, you can write forever and still not feel like a "real" writer. A very smart distinction, Mr. Schubert. For myself, I can tell you that I'm one of the very few people who makes a living writing. And yet even with an MFA, little grants, publications and the like, I still feel somewhat like an amateur, because I have yet to publish a book or achieve a public identity as a writer. That's not all bad, right? As Shunryu Suzuki says, "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few." But it seems to mean something significant (psychologically) to be saying in public, as I never have before, "I've finished [a draft of] my novel." As I told my analyst, "Finishing this book has made me grow up."
Thank you for this MEDICINE
I’m intrigued by the zigs and the zags of your story. This one resonated for me, it took me years to be able to call myself a writer even though I’ve written my whole life. Still emerging. As they say…
Thank you for this. I have been thinking a lot about the meanings of the language we use, and I am honestly not sure how I feel about the word or concept of "emerging" as it relates to being an "emerging writer." I wonder if there is another word that might feel more powerful...
I’m with you on the discomfort with “emerging” though it seems to be the descriptive of choice for unpublished (or underpublished) writers in the lit community. It feels like it is aimed at the soft underbelly of my imposter syndrome.
Oh, I know... I'm definitely a writer who could be considered "emerging" but I choose not to engage with that concept because it doesn't call me into my power and therefore doesn't serve me. "Aimed at the soft underbelly of my imposter syndrome" -- what a great way to put it! By all means, let's apply for emerging writer opportunities when it serves us to do so, but we don't need to let anyone else tell us who or what we ARE. You are a writer who has written your whole life. Period. Full stop. You are a writer.
Thank you Finn. Back at you!
Also, why is this post making me think of the velveteen rabbit?!? Perhaps because I just recently found out I’m gonna be a grandmother🙏💜
Yay!!! Congratulations, that is so wonderful! I love The Velveteen Rabbit! If I recall correctly, the story teaches us that love can make us real. But it suggests we need another's love to do this. Sometimes it happens that way but it doesn't need to. Our love for ourselves can also be just as magical and transformative. 💜 Oh, I'm so excited for your grandmother journey!
Yes! Self love is magical and transforming. And little humans are the best teachers!
It's true, you can write forever and still not feel like a "real" writer. A very smart distinction, Mr. Schubert. For myself, I can tell you that I'm one of the very few people who makes a living writing. And yet even with an MFA, little grants, publications and the like, I still feel somewhat like an amateur, because I have yet to publish a book or achieve a public identity as a writer. That's not all bad, right? As Shunryu Suzuki says, "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few." But it seems to mean something significant (psychologically) to be saying in public, as I never have before, "I've finished [a draft of] my novel." As I told my analyst, "Finishing this book has made me grow up."
Thanks for this, Alex. I'm intrigued by this: "Finishing the book has made me grow up."
"If I can be a man without a cock, I can be a real writer who doesn’t publish much, or at all, or publishes only on my own terms."
Words to live by!