How calling myself a writer changed everything

You don’t have to wait for permission to claim this identity.

Back in 2020, I decided to get serious about writing.

I’d been dabbling for years, but that was the year I started showing up in a different way. I carved out time for my book even when it wasn’t convenient, even when I wasn’t sure where it was going. But more than the word count or the writing schedule, one choice shifted everything for me:

I started calling myself a writer.

At first, it felt a little scary. Who was I to say that? I didn’t have a published book yet. No one was asking me about my writing or holding me accountable. It was just me, sitting down with my laptop, trying to piece together a story.

But the more I said it (to myself, in my journal, sometimes out loud), the more real it became.

Because here’s the truth: you don’t become a writer after you publish. You become a writer when you decide that’s who you are.

When you choose to keep showing up. When you keep adding words to the page even if no one else is watching. When you decide your stories are worth telling.

And once you believe you’re a writer, everything else starts to fall into place. Writing becomes part of your identity, not just an optional hobby you squeeze in when life is quiet (spoiler: life is never quiet).

So if you’re reading this and wondering if you’re “allowed” to call yourself a writer: this is your permission slip. You don’t need external validation or a book deal or a certain number of words written. You get to claim it right now.

This week, try whispering it to yourself every day: I’m a writer. See what shifts when you start to believe it.

PS: If you’re ready to go deeper into building that identity and finally finishing your novel, that’s exactly what I help my clients do. You can book a free consultation here.

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Photo by Andri Aeschlimann on Unsplash