I was reading a blog the other day about writing, and how to think of yourself as a writer. I realized that I don’t actually think of myself as a writer. If people ask me what I do for a living, I always say “I’m an editor.” Partly because this is a little easier than explaining the difference between proofreading, copy editing, and substantive editing, and partly because even though writing is a large part of what I do, it doesn’t really feel like me. Why is that?
Writer, Editor, or Proofreader?
I will admit, I don’t enjoy writing as much as I enjoy editing. And I don’t enjoy editing as much as I enjoy proofreading. Possibly this is because I feel I am a much better proofreader than I am an editor or a writer. But I think it might also be because proofreading is very straightforward. There is usually a right or a wrong way to spell a word, or punctuate a sentence. There isn’t a lot of wiggle room in terms of how to spell a word. So proofreading is a much quicker process for me. I know a lot of words, and I have a huge dictionary at my disposal, so I can easily scan a document and make corrections.
Editing is a little trickier: I have to work with the words, sentences, and paragraphs at hand and make the whole thing better. But there isn’t necessarily a guide to doing this properly. There are multiple options for improving word choices and sentence structure. Sometimes my version is much different from the author’s, but you could argue that neither is more correct than the other.
Writing goes one step further, and I need to create that better version of the thoughts in my head, but there aren’t any guidelines. I can use conventions and best practices to come up with a structure I like, but I need to create the source material rather than just improve upon it. The process is ultimately a more satisfying one, I think, than simply fixing someone else’s mistakes, but it requires much more effort.
Why write?
I think I am often looking for some sort of calming, yet energizing, experience. I think I am most happy when I can do something that is both relaxing and creatively stimulating. I don’t like to try out lots of new things, but I like to be busy, keeping my hands occupied while my brain runs wild. Writing, when it’s good, can fulfill these criteria. When I really get into the zone, and can hear the words forming in my head, and, more importantly, I like the way they sound, that’s why I write. Feeling like I can fill a void with words is a very satisfying feeling.
It can sometimes be difficult to get started, but isn’t that true of so many fulfilling tasks? Just like working out, or crafting, or cooking, writing is something that can take a while to be good at. You need to practice in order to maintain your ability. And sometimes it’s so hard to tie on your running shoes, or finish the sleeve of a sweater, or do all the prep of chopping your ingredients, or write that first word. But once you really get going, you end up with great rewards: stronger muscles, a finished garment, a delicious meal, a perfect little paragraph.
So am I really a writer?
I don’t publish books, nor is that something I plan on doing. I haven’t even been blogging on a consistent basis, although I’m hoping to change that. So am I a writer? Well, I take other people’s ideas and transform them into readable chunks of text. I try to make these interesting, or funny, or valuable to their audience. I facilitate, instead of create, a lot of the time. I’m connecting business owners with their customers, and helping my clients build relationships with their clients. All of which is rewarding stuff, but I don’t really feel like it’s writing, you know?
And then I looked at my computer screen. I saw the hundreds of words in this document (I know, I am wordy), all my thoughts spilling out on the page. I’m not writing this for a client; I’m not transforming someone else’s ideas here. This is all me. My thoughts, my feelings, my words are coming from my brain through my fingers onto the screen. So, am I a writer? I guess I am.