Comments on: I Am (Fill in Blank)

by: Sina Raíz

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:00:35 +0000

Marscha, I just came back from a long weekend t the beach,with family and friends.
During this days, a repetitive reading became my guide and foremost pleasure: “The Dragon Princess”…
To me, the very deep learning was more about living whatever one is labeled as, at its fullest. About feeling without fear, but mostly, about having the necessary humility to open one´s eyes, senses and soul to the most basic truths in life, and to enjoy them at their fullest.
Thank you for your beautiful writing, I couldn´t be more empathical.And I excuse myself for any mistakes, english is not my mother tongue.

by: Therese Walsh

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:10:56 +0000

It’s definitely important to *be* more than the writer label–and I think we all are–but I think what’s interesting is why we writers do hold tight to our label. Is it because the writing experience can become so intensely personal? I know I feel depressed when I can’t write for whatever reason, even though I’m still busy in all my other roles; I feel the absence of that singular label strongly.

My other thought is that the label “writer” is anything but a simple one. It’s just as crazy, convoluted, draining, uplifting and difficult as the label “parent.” When we’re deep in creation mode for a story, we are pouring all of ourselves into it–our fears, hopes, dreams, our personal beauty, our ugliness, our love and hatred…the good, the bad and the ugly. So can’t we point to those sharply colorful threads when we define ourselves? Yes, I’m a writer. I’m emotive. Spiritual. I’m hopeful and fearful. I’m a philosopher, a psychologist, a poet and a researcher. A hell-raiser, a joy-spreader, and a question-raiser. I’m a woman and a man, and a child. I’m a ghost and a god (though I’m wise enough to stick with a small ‘g’).

It’s pretty cool to be all those things and have it summarized in one neat little word isn’t it? Writer. And no wonder when that label is stripped away, the world seems so empty.

Just my 2 cents.

by: Marsha Moyer

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:46:45 +0000

From some of the comments and emails I’ve gotten in response to this post, I feel I may not have made my point exactly as I intended. It’s not that my “writer” label feels threatened; it’s that when I’m NOT writing, I feel a little lost. I want to be able to call myself other things in addition to “writer,” not in place of it. (Melissa got it, spot on.) Also, just for the sake of clarification, the chat buddy who called me out is not a writer himself, so there’s no rivalry involved. However, his remarks caused me to realize how much I’ve come to identify myself as being a writer, sometimes at the expense of what I refer to in my post as “real life.” A few people may be able to write brilliant fiction without having lived much outside their own heads, but as I come into the home stretch on my 4th novel, the well is beginning to go dry. My goal is to replenish it, both for the sake of my psyche AND my work.

by: thea mcginnis

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:24:20 +0000

having lost several of my labels, almost simultaneously, i hang on to that writer label for dear life! and i’m not published yet. maybe the chat buddy who called you on your writer label is just sensitive about NOT being published, and couldn’t resist knocking you a bit out of your perch (in the guise of being ‘helpful’, of course). I say, actually getting published is such a difficult road, being published IS something to rejoice in. Not sure what that person’s motivation was, but i wouldn’t give their words too much weight.

by: Karen Mary Lynch

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:53:24 +0000

So interesting … my home page on my site lists just these types of identifiers.

But the writer title … that one feels subject to criticism and judgment.

I remember one time, before I started writing professionally, when a friend of mine said ‘maybe you just like the idea of being a writer’ and I nearly croaked. I felt horribly threatened.

by: Kathleen Bolton

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:50:28 +0000

It really is weird how our culture wants us to label ourselves. Is it like that in other parts of the world? I read somewhere that this is a disease peculiar to Americans, but again, that’s another label–workaholic Americans.

Beach, beer, and gossip sound like good fun!

by: Melissa Marsh

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:38:27 +0000

Wow, Marsha, a powerful post. I suppose I think of myself as a writer along with the other labels I’ve given myself: wife, mother, friend, sister, granddaughter, daughter, historian, reader, and writer. And I bet that you’ll find that you are lots of other things, too.

by: Kelly

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:17:41 +0000

What an interesting topic. Really gets you thinking. I guess we all have one identity that feels the most comfortable, but you’re right, it isn’t the sole make-up of who we are. I’m a writer, but I’m also a daughter, a sister, a friend, a leader, a knitter, an administrator, a reader, a jokster. And as the writing thing evolves, I imagine there will be more to add to the list, different levels, new arenas. More dragons to turn into princesses. Although I hope they still breathe a little fire.