Do you have to be published to call yourself a novelist? Do you have to have completed a novel? Or do you simply need to be writing one? For me, the issue of "when" I began calling myself a novelist had more to do with when I got over my fear of failure.

I worked on my first novel in earnest for about five years. My husband and a couple of close friends were then only ones who knew. The fear that I'd never finish the darn thing, much less get it published, kept me from telling anyone. Then I finished it. Yet, I was still afraid to tell anyone. Get a publisher first, I told myself.

Well, it takes a while to write a book, find an agent, convince a publisher. Meanwhile, I began to realize, like it or not, I am a novelist. It's all I've ever really wanted to be. Just admit, Jessica. Just tell people.

I was fortunate enough to receive some semi-finalist award nods for my novel as a work in progress, and a sizable award for the completed unpublished work. About a month ago, I got brave and added "Novelist" to my professional freelance writer profile on LinkedIn. Phew!

Now that it's done, that it's "out there," it feels pretty cool. I can't help but wonder if maybe I cheated myself out of that good feeling for too long.

What about you? When did you (or will you) call yourself a novelist?