47 Comments
User's avatar
Maddy O'Neill's avatar

This reminds me of a similar approach regarding running which also tends to have a sort of “gate keep” mindset. If you run, you’re a runner. If you write, you’re a writer. Thank you for this post!

lina's avatar

Ah that’s interesting, that runners also tend to gatekeep! Thanks for sharing 🤍

Deanna Frig's avatar

I loved this. I've had a blog for a few years now and I've uploaded to it pretty consistently every week or so. I've always struggled calling myself a blogger because its not my job. But why do we need to label ourselves based on our 9-5 jobs? This gave me the push I needed to start referring to myself as a blogger and writer. Thank you 🤍

lina's avatar

You get it! 🤍✨

Reggie_miller_444's avatar

The moment you stop waiting for permission and claim the name your work has already earned.

lina's avatar

🔥 🔥 That’s right!

Reggie_miller_444's avatar

Thanks for apprectiing my comment if you comfartable so we will discuss thier further it on any social like instgram,discord or email ?

Reg's avatar

Wrote and published my first substack article yesterday!

lina's avatar

That’s amazing! Congrats!!

Yusra Khan's avatar

Just read your article, it's amazing + bit heartbreaking🥲...and have subscribed. You're doing fantastic 🔥

Reg's avatar

Thank you so much! I appreciate you and have also subscribed back 🫶🏼

Aligned Besties's avatar

Thank you for highlighting this. I am sure this resonates with a lot of people

Olivia Wickstrom's avatar

I am a full-time writer, but love to add adjectives that somehow... explain it: freelance writer, copywriter, ghostwriter. I am a writer! I am a writer! You have made me want to embrace that sentence, raw and true as it is, more fully.

lina's avatar

You’re so real for that. Copywriter is the “feel-good-name” for me too. But hell yeah — we’re writers!

Maya Laurent's avatar

Yes! I decided recently to start calling myself this as well. It's amazing how it changes how I feel about it.

lina's avatar

Hi writer! 👋🏼 I love this so much for you. 🤍

joy's avatar

needed to hear this, filled my heart with a lot of happy, thank you <3

TheWrittenLens's avatar

I really love this article. I recently heard the news that my college magazine selected one of my literary pieces for publication, and after that, I didn't celebrate as a writer, but instead as a college student looking to do more outside of my studies. Thank you for this reminder!

lina's avatar

Woahh that’s amazing! Congrats on getting published! 🥹🤍

Living Outside the Algorithm☁️'s avatar

I needed this.. I am very guilty of saying I will acknowledge myself as a writer “when” xyz, and then even if I achieve that, I fear it’s not enough to self identify. Maybe after this post I will 🤍

lina's avatar

Oh I know this feeling quite well! Writing is enough of an achievement itself 🤍✨

Inês Journal's avatar

Never thought about it because I never saw myself as a writer, but what you wrote made so much sense! I guess I'll call myself a writer now 🥹

Your writing truly inspires me (and I see a lot of other people as well) ✨️

lina's avatar

Hi writer! Happy to hear that my words made you think different 🥹✨

olivia's avatar

i wholeheartedly agree--if you write, you are a writer--whether you're paid, or not. published, or not. thank you for sharing your story and well done on having the courage to say the words out loud. what a thoughtful piece <33

lina's avatar

Thank you for your kind words about my post ✨

Kathi Daniela's avatar

I love this! Yes, if you’re writing, you are a writer. This is something I should probably write on a post-it and pin it to my laptop 😃

lina's avatar

That’s a great idea actually!

Notes on Joie's avatar

I'm also a Brand and Communications Manager, but in random conversations I always say "I'm a writer." Fundamentally, at the heart of things, that's what I am, a storyteller. Embrace it!

lina's avatar

I love this!

marina cases's avatar

I was thinking about this a few days ago. If I "only" write my newsletters on Substack am I allowed to call myself a writer? And your posts have been helping me build the courage to (finally) do so.

lina's avatar

That's so nice to hear! I'm happy I could contribute a little. 🥹🤍

Zali's avatar

I love this 🥹 I called myself a writer all through my writing degree but have grown more and more self-conscious about it since graduating and not writing for all to see. This was so affirming

Zali's avatar

nearly four years ago 🫶🏼🥺

lina's avatar

I'm happ to hear that the post moved something in you! When did you finish your studies? 🤍