Yes, You Can Absolutely Call Yourself A Writer
A few years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, I found myself slowly returning to something I had long pushed aside: writing. I was working on a memoir, scribbling poems again after years of silence, and yet (even in the act of writing) I hesitated to call myself a writer.
It felt… false. Or maybe I felt unworthy.
I hadn’t published anything. Not yet.
And could I really call what I was doing art?
Self-doubt had taken the wheel.
Then something shifted. I joined a community of writers, people who encouraged not just the act of writing, but the brave, terrifying act of sharing. It was vulnerable. It was messy. But it was also transformative.
That community helped me reclaim the title I’d been afraid to use.
It's why I kept going.
It’s why I published a book of poems.
And it’s why I’m here, writing this…for you.
Because if you’ve ever been afraid to call yourself a writer…
If you’re waiting for a sign, a certificate, a book deal, or someone else’s approval…This is it.
You are a writer.
If you write, whether or not you share it, publish it, or polish it, you are a writer.
Own it. Wear it like a crown.
Be proud. And above all… keep writing.
Hone your skills. Explore your voice. Let the words lead you.
And if you're looking for encouragement, a gentle place to grow into your writer-self, I invite you to join us in the Emerging Writers Circle. It’s a space for people just like you…new, nervous, and full of stories waiting to be told.
Pick up your pen. You never know where it might take you.
And yes, you can absolutely call yourself a writer.
With warmth,
Sharla
