This is so true. When you assign yourself a label, that gives permission for others to apply it to you. "You don't need to pay attention to her. She's just an aspiring writer. Check in again when she becomes a real one." All our perspectives need to be shared. How else can we ever understand each other or where the other person is coming from? I can give an anecdote from personal experience. A Black writer had written about what her protagonist had to go through to get a medical appointment. (I believe the setting was Chicago.) I was horrified and asked her if it was really like that. She replied that it was, for Blacks, at least in the US. I would never have known if she hadn't written about it.
The things Black people have to go through just get everyday stuff done like make doctors appointments for ourselves and family is ridiculous. And many don’t believe it’s really that hard for us simply because they can’t imagine it. I love when writers are able to sit and talk about the experiences they put into their stories.
You're right. We can't imagine it because it doesn't fit our experience. That's why it's so important to get as many perspectives as possible. I don't know how much of the difference is Black vs White, how much is US vs Canada, how much relates to income levels, etc. And the same is true of differences in political views or any other issue on which we're divided. Nothing dissolves battle lines faster than honest communication. We writers are the communicators for the world.
Honestly, prior to reading this, I never would of saw the harm of someone calling themselves an aspiring writer if they are a beginner.
Numerous times I heard writers had quit their dreams due to allowing other publications or professors labeling them in a negative away that distorted them from their path
Calling your aspiring writer is like waiting for permission to be called a real writer.
Again, appericate you for this insight and hopefully I can change the way I see myself.
Thank you for reading! I’m glad it struck a nerve so to speak. For Black and Brown people, harmful and destructive labels are constantly being put on us. And “aspiring writer” is one of them. Once you set the intention, you can absolutely change the way you see yourself.
Yes—drop “aspiring” by all means. I’ve been there early in my writing career. Published, getting paid, perfecting my craft and yet still not owning the identity of a writer knowing damn well I’m just that. Now? Try to get me to shut up about being a writer.
Oh I love this piece so much and not because I’m mentioned. I too want people to stop saying “aspiring” just because it’s not the level of success they deem to be worthy. But the direction you took this piece is GOLD! Thank you as well for the shoutout!!!
You are so welcome! That piece touched me cuz I’m seeing the war as a DMV resident. So many people are scared to claim their identity as a writer because of all the oppression. And I get it. But we have work to do and words to write.
This is so true. When you assign yourself a label, that gives permission for others to apply it to you. "You don't need to pay attention to her. She's just an aspiring writer. Check in again when she becomes a real one." All our perspectives need to be shared. How else can we ever understand each other or where the other person is coming from? I can give an anecdote from personal experience. A Black writer had written about what her protagonist had to go through to get a medical appointment. (I believe the setting was Chicago.) I was horrified and asked her if it was really like that. She replied that it was, for Blacks, at least in the US. I would never have known if she hadn't written about it.
The things Black people have to go through just get everyday stuff done like make doctors appointments for ourselves and family is ridiculous. And many don’t believe it’s really that hard for us simply because they can’t imagine it. I love when writers are able to sit and talk about the experiences they put into their stories.
You're right. We can't imagine it because it doesn't fit our experience. That's why it's so important to get as many perspectives as possible. I don't know how much of the difference is Black vs White, how much is US vs Canada, how much relates to income levels, etc. And the same is true of differences in political views or any other issue on which we're divided. Nothing dissolves battle lines faster than honest communication. We writers are the communicators for the world.
Yes! Open and honest communication. Writers have the power to literally create change in world and we should not be taking this for granted.
Reading this was an eye opener.
Honestly, prior to reading this, I never would of saw the harm of someone calling themselves an aspiring writer if they are a beginner.
Numerous times I heard writers had quit their dreams due to allowing other publications or professors labeling them in a negative away that distorted them from their path
Calling your aspiring writer is like waiting for permission to be called a real writer.
Again, appericate you for this insight and hopefully I can change the way I see myself.
Thank you for reading! I’m glad it struck a nerve so to speak. For Black and Brown people, harmful and destructive labels are constantly being put on us. And “aspiring writer” is one of them. Once you set the intention, you can absolutely change the way you see yourself.
Yes—drop “aspiring” by all means. I’ve been there early in my writing career. Published, getting paid, perfecting my craft and yet still not owning the identity of a writer knowing damn well I’m just that. Now? Try to get me to shut up about being a writer.
Thanks for putting this out into the world.
Thank you for reading! And yes! Stand on business! You are a writer. The only thing you aspire to do is become the best writer you can be.
Great piece, and all so true.
Interesting... true just ditch the "aspiring" part and all is well.
Agreed
Oh I love this piece so much and not because I’m mentioned. I too want people to stop saying “aspiring” just because it’s not the level of success they deem to be worthy. But the direction you took this piece is GOLD! Thank you as well for the shoutout!!!
You are so welcome! That piece touched me cuz I’m seeing the war as a DMV resident. So many people are scared to claim their identity as a writer because of all the oppression. And I get it. But we have work to do and words to write.
It’s so important for us all to keep doing this very thing…change is on the horizon! This is amazing!
Beautifully said 💛