Susie, you're right on the money with your observations. I've spent the last two years working on a novel (sending queries now) and there are only a select few who know anything about it. I have to admit that I've concluded I'm not really a writer until something I've written has been published.


I've thought recently about expanding my "circle of trust" to include a few more, but haven't done so. I think fiction writers tend to be more introspective than most people. There's so much thought and evaluation involved with character development, motivation, etc when we're developing our stories, that we may over-think how we portray ourselves to others.

I really tend to agree with you on this one. But as somebody who has published stuff in lots of journals, I'm not really sure that the pub credits do anything to change how you view writing. I mean maybe it will change when I sell my first novel, but I guess I've finally gotten to the mindset that how other people see me has far more to do with how I see myself. I've had lots of poems publish in great journals and some short fiction. I've sold greeting cards but none of that made me feel like real writer. The compulsion to apply pen to paper does that.

I can't answer for everyone, but yes... I've experienced that myself. When my family found out that I was going to send out a manuscript to publishers I had several who immediatly began calling me 'the author' which for whatever reason, embarrassed me. It was as if somewhere in me there was a swith with a sign over it that said, "Do Not Flip Switch Unless Published".



Maybe it's because we've all been told the odds of getting published are slim to none, and we've allowed ourselves to accept that, with the side effect of not wanting to seem pretentious so we stay quiet. After all, isn't the next assumption that we'll be on the Best Seller lists and make millions of dollars?



Like I said, I can't speak for others, but you're not alone. When someone talks to me about my writing, I have to pause, take a deep breath and force myself to jump in and talk about it.



Maybe we should have meetings for all of us 'Closet Authors'. Hi, my name is Janice and I'm an Author!

Isn't it comforting to know you're not alone? Admitting you're a writer feels almost the same as saying you have a horrible affliction. I always hated when I had the guts to say 'yes' the next question was always, 'do you have anything published?' For so long my answer was no. Now that it's finally yes, I must say nothing has really changed. I have always been a writer. Writer's write, and if you write, you're a writer. I figure, if you can't believe it yourself, how can anyone else?

I appear to be in the minority but...um...no.
I'm a writer. It's not a choice for me. I tried to not be a writer, and I was miserable. Because for me, writing isn't a job, or a career or any of that shtuff. It's like breathing and taking care of my children and eating--things that aren't optional. I HAVE to care for my children, and I HAVE to breath, and I HAVE to sit down and write until three a.m. if my muse decides that's what I should do.
It's not something that anyone who is NOT a writer would understand. But there is nothing small about writing a novel of any size. Tell yourself that, and your setting yourself up for rejection and a life full of unpublished work, and cats.
Am I published? Yes. Do I have books on a bookshelf at Barnes and Nobles? Nope, but the book deal is there. Does that book deal change who I am or what I did just because I have it? Hell, no. In fact, now that I have a contract with a publisher, I'm spending more time working kinks out of a storyline then I am writing a new novel.
Your achievments--or lack of them, thus far--do not decide who you are. Remember that....and keep writing!! Best of luck!
N~