I think the fraud feeling being a writer comes from the traditional mindset of giving value with our writing. I think the joy of being one is that we can share our thoughts and make an impact in people's lives. Having massive followers/readers is a direct and more obvious feedback for our efforts.
However, I think what we forget is how much indirect impact could be meaningful and helpful in ways we cannot imagine. That we can create a movement in a person's brain to shift their thoughts and behaviors that could lead them to a better positive outlook on life. We don't see this feedback loop, but it's what fuels us to share and write in the first place. We share our thoughts as reflections, as a mirror, so others can learn more about their life through our experiences and forge a path for improvements and a better future.
If you call yourself a fraud, I am too. I remembered my experience in a college for a class I needed to attend to get this student leadership role. The feedback I got was mostly how bad I am at writing. But I did get into the team and the job because of something greater than traditional academics to be helpful for prospective students.
Now, I have a habit of writing my thoughts and reflections. Although still inconsistent, I do call myself a writer. Even as I feel insecure about grammar and the rules of writing, I'll probably be stubborn to learn it all again since I'm not a big fan of rules, haha. The most important thing is, I am a writer because I am a story teller. I am a writer because I am filled with life experiences. And I want to surround myself with writers because I have some things to say and to learn.
So, let's cheer on our ongoing journey as writers. Mine is still a long way to go as I want people to be able to play my life stories as I write my reflection on life. But, thanks for being one of the flames that helps to affirm this journey forward.
Thank you so much Thomi for those kind words. I'm being literal when I say I have tears in my eyes reading that last sentence. I think your comment is one I'm going to want to come back to over and over when I'm feeling demotivated due to the lack of the more explicit reaffirmation of my efforts like readership and open rates and likes. Let's walk together in this writer's journey! And I'd love to read some of your writings. Do you publish them anywhere?
Thanks for sharing Thomi! Interesting strategy to cool off before responding. Do share with me your Medium when it's ready. I'd love to read it and see where your writing takes you. Also, good luck on the app. :)
As for reaching out to others, I always feel apprehension doing it because I don't know how the other person will respond. But I tend to go for it anyways because of exactly that: you can never know how the other person will take it and if it's a message/comment/observation worth sharing, I shouldn't let that fear of the unknown stop me.
The question that pops into my mind is, does it depend upon the context in which you are introducing yourself?
For example, if you are describing yourself in terms of your primary vocation, perhaps you aren’t a writer. (Then again, arguably, you are.) but if you are describing yourself in terms of your interests, talents, or passions, “I am a writer” might be entirely fair game.
That's interesting. I think the conundrum comes in the context of primary vocation. In fact, I'm not quite sure what my primary vocation is now. I'd like to say "writer," but I don't know if I'm simply a "content creator" which better describes the eclectic things that I do. It doesn't sound as nice to my ears and I don't really see myself as one though...
I suppose for myself, I've avoided the problem by refusing to categorize myself. I sell my labor a couple of days a week to a concrete contractor, another day a week to a carpenter, and the other couple days to bookkeepers, but I don't call myself any one of those things. Some of the rest of my time, I devote to studying philosophy and writing about it via my publication here on Substack, but I call myself neither philosopher nor writer. There are things I do for currency, there are things I do to help my community, there are things I do that I enjoy and that speak to my soul.
That's not to say I've never categorized myself. I've called myself a musician on several occasions, but I do try my best to avoid doing so. Because in my experience, when you categorize yourself, it leads people to preemptively judge you and what you do, to compare you to their favorite examples of those categories. Consciously or not, you know they're doing that. And that can be a major blow to confidence.
I suppose it all boils down to a need that most people have for an identity, and having that aforementioned categorization applied to yourself can certainly be a part of that for some. Of course, most of those categories really only apply in relation to other people. You would have no need of them if you were alone on this planet.
For me though, the soul behind this physical body just isn't concerned with identity. And I think it helps guard my ego against self conscious worry.
I realize this comment is very rambly, hopefully it makes some sense
Hi Steven, your comment makes perfect sense! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. That's a very good point that presenting yourself under a particular label can lead others to judge you and what you do, leading to issues with confidence and worry. I'm curious to know, without explicitly labelling yourself, how do you perceive yourself? What is your self-conception/perception based on? (Please feel free to get as philosophical as you want. It's a subject I'm very fond of and I used to study in university.)
As for me, I'm using the label "writer" or "translator" partly to communicate to others what I do (and trigger all the associations related to those words). But it's as much for me to create a sense of pride in my "craft" and also give myself focus. Being a "content creator" to me is very different from being a "writer," for example. The latter gives me the motivation/drive/obligation (call it what you will) to devote more time and attention to the specific craft of writing. Whereas when I label myself a content creator, I feel that anything goes and I just muddle along without focus.
Not a problem! Thank you for taking the time to engage conversation :)
Ah yes, that is a question that I am unable to answer definitively (And thankfully so, for it gives me a target to continue to work towards!) What I can tell you right now, is that I have a body that is part of the material world, which is animated by spirit. The shape this material body takes is irrelevant, though I know that if I maintain it in a healthy way, I can prolong my spirit's attachment to this world. And indeed, make it a more enjoyable experience than if I were to let it fall into disrepair. To what is this spirit connected? What is it's purpose? Those are the big questions arent they? Will we ever know for certain?
The other large reason I reject categories, is that it necessarily stunts my intellectual growth. How many questions has society deemed that I am not allowed to wade into because of the pigment of the skin that covers my meat skeleton? How many questions could we collectively answer if we weren't so concerned with tribalism?
What about yourself? Devoid of categories, how would you perceive you?
I do agree that categories are useful in communicating to each other! What I dislike is our tendencies to reduce people to abstracts of those categories, thereby de-humanizing them. Nowhere is this more prevalent than pur political landscape. (The crazy far left wingers, the nazi far right wingers.) The problems and benefits in categories is something I plan to address in a future essay
Now, your last point there is interesting! You use those categories as a form of personal motivation, and I can definitely think of times where I've done the same. When you decide on what you want to be (musician, writer, etc) it gives you a goal to work towards, and you can more easily allocate your time and resources into achieving it. I would certainly never shake a stick at people who choose that path, I'd much rather see people motivated to achieve a goal, than to be aimless!
A lot of big questions indeed that a philosophising mind such as yours can ponder on for years to come! As for your question for me: devoid of categories, how would I perceive me? I've never asked myself this before. Thinking of it now, my mind presents two answers, both heavily influenced by my guided meditation practice on Headspace, then on Waking Up. The first is as a ball of energy which I can channel into pursuits e.g. writing, eating, loving, etc. And the second is as a void which perceives through the senses and is filled with the happenings of life. I think both give meaning to my being in very different ways, and I like both.
I think the fraud feeling being a writer comes from the traditional mindset of giving value with our writing. I think the joy of being one is that we can share our thoughts and make an impact in people's lives. Having massive followers/readers is a direct and more obvious feedback for our efforts.
However, I think what we forget is how much indirect impact could be meaningful and helpful in ways we cannot imagine. That we can create a movement in a person's brain to shift their thoughts and behaviors that could lead them to a better positive outlook on life. We don't see this feedback loop, but it's what fuels us to share and write in the first place. We share our thoughts as reflections, as a mirror, so others can learn more about their life through our experiences and forge a path for improvements and a better future.
If you call yourself a fraud, I am too. I remembered my experience in a college for a class I needed to attend to get this student leadership role. The feedback I got was mostly how bad I am at writing. But I did get into the team and the job because of something greater than traditional academics to be helpful for prospective students.
Now, I have a habit of writing my thoughts and reflections. Although still inconsistent, I do call myself a writer. Even as I feel insecure about grammar and the rules of writing, I'll probably be stubborn to learn it all again since I'm not a big fan of rules, haha. The most important thing is, I am a writer because I am a story teller. I am a writer because I am filled with life experiences. And I want to surround myself with writers because I have some things to say and to learn.
So, let's cheer on our ongoing journey as writers. Mine is still a long way to go as I want people to be able to play my life stories as I write my reflection on life. But, thanks for being one of the flames that helps to affirm this journey forward.
Thank you so much Thomi for those kind words. I'm being literal when I say I have tears in my eyes reading that last sentence. I think your comment is one I'm going to want to come back to over and over when I'm feeling demotivated due to the lack of the more explicit reaffirmation of my efforts like readership and open rates and likes. Let's walk together in this writer's journey! And I'd love to read some of your writings. Do you publish them anywhere?
I'm glad my words can move you further to a positive direction to keep going with your writing.
Your reply that my comment can be an affirmation will be my affirmation to be brave in reaching out and also sharing my thoughts.
I've only written one blog post but have written a lot of content worthy journaling in private.
I'm planning to eventually share them once I've finish creating my own medium.
You can read my first and only blog here https://lifefulfive.com/in-motion
Thanks for sharing Thomi! Interesting strategy to cool off before responding. Do share with me your Medium when it's ready. I'd love to read it and see where your writing takes you. Also, good luck on the app. :)
As for reaching out to others, I always feel apprehension doing it because I don't know how the other person will respond. But I tend to go for it anyways because of exactly that: you can never know how the other person will take it and if it's a message/comment/observation worth sharing, I shouldn't let that fear of the unknown stop me.
The question that pops into my mind is, does it depend upon the context in which you are introducing yourself?
For example, if you are describing yourself in terms of your primary vocation, perhaps you aren’t a writer. (Then again, arguably, you are.) but if you are describing yourself in terms of your interests, talents, or passions, “I am a writer” might be entirely fair game.
That's interesting. I think the conundrum comes in the context of primary vocation. In fact, I'm not quite sure what my primary vocation is now. I'd like to say "writer," but I don't know if I'm simply a "content creator" which better describes the eclectic things that I do. It doesn't sound as nice to my ears and I don't really see myself as one though...
I suppose for myself, I've avoided the problem by refusing to categorize myself. I sell my labor a couple of days a week to a concrete contractor, another day a week to a carpenter, and the other couple days to bookkeepers, but I don't call myself any one of those things. Some of the rest of my time, I devote to studying philosophy and writing about it via my publication here on Substack, but I call myself neither philosopher nor writer. There are things I do for currency, there are things I do to help my community, there are things I do that I enjoy and that speak to my soul.
That's not to say I've never categorized myself. I've called myself a musician on several occasions, but I do try my best to avoid doing so. Because in my experience, when you categorize yourself, it leads people to preemptively judge you and what you do, to compare you to their favorite examples of those categories. Consciously or not, you know they're doing that. And that can be a major blow to confidence.
I suppose it all boils down to a need that most people have for an identity, and having that aforementioned categorization applied to yourself can certainly be a part of that for some. Of course, most of those categories really only apply in relation to other people. You would have no need of them if you were alone on this planet.
For me though, the soul behind this physical body just isn't concerned with identity. And I think it helps guard my ego against self conscious worry.
I realize this comment is very rambly, hopefully it makes some sense
Hi Steven, your comment makes perfect sense! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. That's a very good point that presenting yourself under a particular label can lead others to judge you and what you do, leading to issues with confidence and worry. I'm curious to know, without explicitly labelling yourself, how do you perceive yourself? What is your self-conception/perception based on? (Please feel free to get as philosophical as you want. It's a subject I'm very fond of and I used to study in university.)
As for me, I'm using the label "writer" or "translator" partly to communicate to others what I do (and trigger all the associations related to those words). But it's as much for me to create a sense of pride in my "craft" and also give myself focus. Being a "content creator" to me is very different from being a "writer," for example. The latter gives me the motivation/drive/obligation (call it what you will) to devote more time and attention to the specific craft of writing. Whereas when I label myself a content creator, I feel that anything goes and I just muddle along without focus.
Not a problem! Thank you for taking the time to engage conversation :)
Ah yes, that is a question that I am unable to answer definitively (And thankfully so, for it gives me a target to continue to work towards!) What I can tell you right now, is that I have a body that is part of the material world, which is animated by spirit. The shape this material body takes is irrelevant, though I know that if I maintain it in a healthy way, I can prolong my spirit's attachment to this world. And indeed, make it a more enjoyable experience than if I were to let it fall into disrepair. To what is this spirit connected? What is it's purpose? Those are the big questions arent they? Will we ever know for certain?
The other large reason I reject categories, is that it necessarily stunts my intellectual growth. How many questions has society deemed that I am not allowed to wade into because of the pigment of the skin that covers my meat skeleton? How many questions could we collectively answer if we weren't so concerned with tribalism?
What about yourself? Devoid of categories, how would you perceive you?
I do agree that categories are useful in communicating to each other! What I dislike is our tendencies to reduce people to abstracts of those categories, thereby de-humanizing them. Nowhere is this more prevalent than pur political landscape. (The crazy far left wingers, the nazi far right wingers.) The problems and benefits in categories is something I plan to address in a future essay
Now, your last point there is interesting! You use those categories as a form of personal motivation, and I can definitely think of times where I've done the same. When you decide on what you want to be (musician, writer, etc) it gives you a goal to work towards, and you can more easily allocate your time and resources into achieving it. I would certainly never shake a stick at people who choose that path, I'd much rather see people motivated to achieve a goal, than to be aimless!
A lot of big questions indeed that a philosophising mind such as yours can ponder on for years to come! As for your question for me: devoid of categories, how would I perceive me? I've never asked myself this before. Thinking of it now, my mind presents two answers, both heavily influenced by my guided meditation practice on Headspace, then on Waking Up. The first is as a ball of energy which I can channel into pursuits e.g. writing, eating, loving, etc. And the second is as a void which perceives through the senses and is filled with the happenings of life. I think both give meaning to my being in very different ways, and I like both.