What does it mean to be 'a writer'?

After writing for almost 10 years, till this day, I still don't feel comfortable calling myself a "writer", but after listening to an episode of "The Tablo Podcast", I started wondering why I felt this way.

A little background information for those of you who aren't familiar with "The Tablo Podcast"; it is hosted by Tablo, aka Daniel Armand Lee, from the famous hip hop KPOP group Epik High. Tablo graduated from Stanford University where he among other things studied creative writing. He is a beatmaker, writer and the leader of Epik High, known for writing really deep and meaningful lyrics.

But let's get back on track:
While listening to Ep #3 called "How to become a billionaire", he talked about how some people think, if they read up about the daily routines of a billionaire and follow these routines, they can become successful too. But as wise as he is, he said:

"Bill Gates didn't become a billionaire because he woke up at 5 AM every day and worked out, he became a billionaire because he created Microsoft, a product people needed and wanted to purchase.

Then he made a comparison to the time he was in University, and this is the part I really loved. Let me him again quote:

"When I was in school, you know I'm a writer, so I was in a creative writing program and you know I studied literature, so there were always writers around me. And there are a group of kids that are just pure real writers, like they love writing. So they don't look like writers, but they are amazing. And you know, I truly love writing, so we would just write because we loved it. But there are always a select group of certain individuals that adopt all the antics and the whole aura of a writer without the actual substance of being the writer. So like the stereotypical image of an artist or like a genius writer, like alcoholism, smelling bad, being kinda like nutty, have a certain type of look clothing-wise, having a cigarette all the time. And they look like amazing writers, they look like they're gonna write the next great novel, but at the end of the day their writing isn't that good." - The tablo podcast Ep #3, 39:57 - 41:22

I think in this time and age of social media, stereotypes are growing more and more. Who hasn't seen a photo of a Starbucks coffee, a Macbook on a table and a notebook next to it, with the caption "living the student life" or some other caption. More than ever before are we being told how we should live our lives and how it should look. I think a lot of people, including myself, look at photos like that and think "is that how my life is supposed to be? Am I doing something wrong?" The internet is making it easier and easier for us to compare ourselves to each other and create these stereotypes we all feel like we have to follow to fit in to society.

So going back to the beginning, this has made me rethink why I don't feel comfortable calling myself a writer. What would it take for me to feel comfortable adressing myself that way? Do I have to get published to call myself a writer? Do I have to stop writing fan-fiction and write only original stories to call myself a writer?
I've had all sorts of thoughts like this, but Tablo just made me realize, if I love writing and I spend my time writing, then I am a writer. It is in the word itself. To be a writer, is to write, and that is something I most definitely do. I might not write the next big best seller or be everyone's cup of tea, but that doesn't change the fact that I am a writer, and if you, the person reading this, likes to write as well, then you are a writer too.

I hope this short blog post got you thinking and helped you in one way or another, because that was my intention writing this. Helping others who might have struggles with the same thoughts as I have, realize that they are in fact a writer, even if they aren't published or famous or anything.

Take care, stay safe and don't forget to leave a comment down below!

Happy Writing!

Love Annalise~