Definition of a Writer

The other day I went with a girlfriend of mine to see the movie "Julie & Julia" based on the book by Julie Powell. Yes I'm guilty of seeing a movie prior to partaking in the movie's foundational page-flipping source. Yes, avid readers I am aware of the travesty. Books are in many cases superior to their movie prototypes and should always be enjoyed before running to the theater and purchasing an ever increasing priced ticket stub. It's like visiting the Grand Canyon, but instead of actually stopping to take in its beauty and magnitude with my own eyes, I ran straight into the gift shop and purchased a postcard of the canyon.

But in my defense, I declare this: I enjoyed the "postcard" I purchased and you'll just have to accept my moment of literary rebellion. Deal with it :)

Anyway, as I watched the pleasurably cute story of how one life deeply influenced the life of another, I found myself very caught up in both ladies' desire to be published- each for their own differentiating yet similar reasons. Yes I know, shocker, me caught up in a story line about people getting published. I know I'm a glutton for punishment by imagining the unrealistic (what proper writer doesn't imagine the unrealistic?) Sorry tangent...

But there was one line in particular I found grating at the very essence of my being. At one point the character Julie states (in its essence) that "you're not a writer until you're published." Wait! Stop the film. My instincts instantly triggered in alarm. That's not true. I'm a writer and I'm not published. How dare they market such rubbish to an unassuming audience.

Now at this point my enjoyment for the movie continued, but I wanted to see if they would correct such a tragic blunder. The movie progressed and I enjoyed the antics and sympathized with the characters as they sacrificed their lives (in practically every way) to reach the audience to whom they wrote and nurture the project they loved.

In the end both characters found satisfaction and a sense of personal achievement- each eventually finding themselves published. I think in many ways their stories ring true in the pursuit to be came an "Author" - sacrifice, lots of hard work, more sacrifice, lots of rewriting, rejection by peers and people you don't know (and might never care to know), more rewriting, hard work again, did I mentioned rewriting and I think you get my drift. But even though I felt my $7.25 was well spent, I still felt the story lacked a clarified truth about being a writer.

One does not become a writer, cook, actor, painter, etc only once you've been "discovered." By all means no! No I say! Do you hear me? As my writing journey approaches its 2nd unofficial year, if I had to start over with only one morsel of truth it would be this: Abby you are a writer because you write and because you love to write.

Yes, that's it. It may seem simple but its the truth. I've been swept off my feet by the waves of pursuit compelling me to write something even better than the day before. I can promise you I'm far from being good at my craft, but here's the cool part - I know I can only improve the more I dedicate to it. It will be a life long learning experience like anything else we experience. Some people have strong natural affinities to do certain things, but if the heart beats strongly for those pursuing something they love then they are just as much a "insert title" as the other person. My title is Writer.

So write on Writers...your day of fame may never come but never doubt who you are. A Writer with a capital W.