Declaring Yourself

Mark Pettus asks an interesting question on his latest post at The Bluff:

Have you been outed? Did you out yourself? Are you out with everyone, or only with people you know are cool? Are you even out with yourself? Are you a writer? Do you call yourself a writer in public? Do you tell other people what you do when you're sitting alone in front of your computer?

The way we name ourselves to others is so potent. I often think of Andrea Scher's post about the moment she accepted the label of artist:

What came to mind is something a friend of mine told me years ago. I was saying something self-deprecating and insecure about my artwork and he turned to me and said, "When are you going to take it for granted that you are a talented artist? When are you going to stop trying to prove it? Assume it. Take it for granted and imagine what you could create from that place..."

My whole life changed that day.

I finally saw how much energy I was putting into becoming an artist. I thought I had to somehow earn the title, that there was some special magic attached to it. I thought I had to be plucked from the crowd, that someone from the outside (who? I have no idea) would say to me, NOW. You are good enough.

What a bunch of crap.

Alice Munro vividly recalls the first time she put down her occupation as "writer" rather than "housewife" on the Canadian census. For Margaret Atwood, the moment of truth occurred when she was filling out her passport application.

I notice that I have no trouble calling myself a writer, but when people ask what I write, I first explain the software manuals and technical editing, and mention fiction as an afterthought, as though the work I'm paid for is more important than what I do for love.

Last week I started wearing my jacket with the "I Write Books" button I got from National Novel Writing Month. Now the woman at the bakery and the guy at the copy shop are saying, "Hey, you write books? Cool. What kind of books?" and I'm embarrassed but also pleased to be reminded in these anonymous places that yes, I do write books, I am a writer. It's an important step in our apprenticeship to the craft, giving ourselves permission to assume the title.