Dare to call yourself a writer

Three practical steps to make it so in 2025

When I coach new writers, I often find them hesitant to call themselves writers, to wear that label, as if it were sacred or they had to earn it. “I am a writer” is a difficult thing to say because most people equate being a writer with publishing. But not all writers are published.

All writers write. If you are writing, on a regular basis, you are a writer, whether or not you’ve been published. But if you are only thinking of writing, hoping you’ll find the motivation or time or courage to do so, then you are not really a writer. You perhaps have an interest in writing, a dream to write.

But you can become a writer in 2025. You can move forward toward your dream.

Here are three things you need in order to begin your journey toward being a writer.

First, you need time. This barrier is fairly easy to push through. Here’s how:

People sometimes ask how I find time to write. I don’t. I make time to write. I choose to set aside time to write, rather than do other things.

You cannot manage what you’re not aware of. So start by increasing your awareness. Track your time for three days: Most of us don’t know how we spend our time. If you work full time, you know you’re at work for 8 or more hours five days a week, but even there, we sometimes don’t always embrace efficiency or even awareness of our time. So get a small notebook, or use a spreadsheet on your computer, and track what you do every day for three days. Break your day into hours or even quarter hours. Be honest.

Track how long it takes you to commute to work, how long it takes you to run errands on Saturday, how much time you spend helping your kids with homework, cleaning your house, whatever.

Photo by energepic.com: https://www.pexels.com/

You have an extra hour in your day somewhere right now, and tracking your time will help you find it. Most likely you spend it scrolling on your phone, or maybe watching tv. Why not celebrate the shutdown of TikTok by taking the extra hour you now have in your day (that used to go down the TikTok drain) and sit down to write for an hour?

You might need to go to bed a little earlier, then get up early to write. Or let the dusting go and write instead. :)

Second, you need a topic. You need something to write about, of course.

You’ll find your topic at the intersection of your expertise, and your reader’s need. If you want to write for publication, you must write for someone, not just about something, aa I mentioned in last week’s newsletter. If you missed it I highly recommend you go back and read it.

Years ago I had a client who gave motivational talks on loving your job. She gave audiences strategies on how to manage time and reframe their attitudes to reduce stress and love their jobs. She hired me to help her write articles that would get her more speaking gigs.

We wrote articles aimed at specific readers. For example, we wrote an article tailoring her message specifically to nurses. We then pitched that article to a professional nursing association, which had a magazine and website. They published the article, which had a short footnote saying that the author (my client) was available to speak on the topic, and the nurses association hired her to speak at their annual convention.

You have expertise. There are readers who need to know what you know. They need your advice and insights. Write for them. Figure out where those readers gather. What podcasts or blogs do they consume?

There are other topics you might know a lot about, and readers who want to read what you have to say. Look at your life experience, including your career. Could you write content for the field in which you work?

Before you write a book, consider writing content for other publications like blogs or newsletters. It’s much easier to get published by starting there. Even a guest post on a blog helps you build your writing experience.

Many beginning writers want to tell their own story, write their memoir. If you feel your memoir would be compelling to anyone other than you and your therapist, then by all means, do it. I highly recommend Susy Flory’s My One-Year Memoir course, which will guide you step by step to complete your memoir manuscript in one year.

But memoir can be hard to publish, if you’re not famous or don’t have a large platform. Don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone should write their story, but not everyone should seek publication of it.

But you can mine your story for anecdotes that will illustrate your topic beautifully.

Finally, you need a team. Other writers to hold you accountable, help you along the way.

You’re a little nervous about sharing what you write with others. Which makes sense—your writing is a little piece of you. Vulnerability opens you up to criticism, but as Brené Brown has said, it is the only path to wholehearted living. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change,” she wrote.

Your team might be a critique group. This can be as simple as two or three other writers who agree to read each other’s work and give feedback.

Your team might be a writing coach or editor. When I coach writers, I require them to send me a chunk of their work each month. I read it, give feedback, and we talk about what they’ve written: what’s great, what needs tweaking. (If you are interested in working with me as a coach, I am now taking names for those ready to begin in the second quarter of this year.)

You might decide to take a writing class at your local community college or online. A class provides accountability, because you’ll have assignments. It provides feedback from your teacher or fellow students.

If your budget is limited, you might consider joining the West Coast Christian Writers. For just $70 a year, you have access to an online community of writers, three mini masterclasses on writing per year, Latte & Lit (a bookclub),critique groups, Writer Connex (an online discussion group), opportunities to write for the WCCW newsletter, and more. (Learn more at www.westcoastchristianwriters.com/membership)

Is 2025 the year you will write? The year you’ll finally dare to call yourself a writer? If you make time, research a topic, and find a team, you’ll be well on your way.