Once in awhile I casually mention being a writer into a conversation with someone. I was raised in a small town, but I go to school in a fairly large city, but regardless of where I am, the reaction is nearly always the same. First, they appear a little surprised or put off, they seem unsure of what to say, and finally, they usually say something nice. Now, whether that something nice is actually genuine or not is a different story.
What I don't understand is why being a writer seems like such a peculiar concept to some people. Saying so doesn't insinuate that I'm successful in any way, it simply means that I identify as an individual who writes regularly and most likely shares it with other people. It also doesn't tell you any information about the contents of my writing or my reason for writing.
Somehow I feel like people have lost sight of the need for artistic expression. Writing, being one of the most common and beautiful forms of art, is simply one of them.
Being a writer means that you have found something in life worth sharing with others. It means that you want people to hear you, learn from you and understand you. Being a writer means that you want to express areas of you that you can't seem to be able to place into spoken word or conversation. It isn't a title like author or poet, it's really a characteristic some of us choose to identify with.
I wonder what it will take for people to stop looking at me like I'm silly or wasting my time. Is it just me, will i not look like someone able to writing or does this occur to all of us? I can't seem to be prepared for the idea that people think sharing my life somehow makes me dwindle of a person instead of much more of one.
As a writer, being able to express myself in this manner has saved me more times than I'm able to possible recall. Writing has allowed me to come to know myself and the world I live in. It has helped me new friendships and triggered wonderful conversations and thoughts. It's taught me to allow the burden of life to sit on a piece of paper or a screen instead of on my shoulders.
Next time you believe what I choose to do is useless work or a nuisance to your web page, remember what it felt like when you couldn't find a way to reach out to the world around you and tell them you were in pain because writing cured that for me. More than anything, writing has taught me who in my life thinks I have a story worth telling and feelings worth expressing. Unfortunately, it has also taught me who hasn't taken the time to get to know me like a person and understand why this is so important to me.
To all my fellow writers, I love hearing what you have to say. I love the courage behind your words. Most of all, I love how you choose to love yourself enough to talk about even the darkest times of your lifetime with others. You understand that maybe, just maybe, by reading it can help guide them out of their dark times as well.
