Lisbeth L. McCarty, author of Mental States of Murderesses: Women Who Kill
Writing is one of the most welcoming professions in the world. Anyone who wants to write is welcome to do so. Writing does not care what color you are. Writing does not care what you look like, whether you have brown, blue, black, or green eyes or straight, curly, long, or short hair. Writing does not care if you are male or female.
Writing does not care if you have degrees or have no education. Writing does not care if you write with a pencil, a pen, or on a computer. Writing does not care if you are published or not published. Writing does not care if you have won numerous writing contests or have only won a few or have not won any.
Writing does not care if you are a grammar perfectionist or if you just want to profess your feelings. Writing does not care what genre you chose, whether that be rhymed poetry, unrhymed poetry, short stories, dystopian novels, mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, or any other category of a combination of categories. Writing does not even care if you invent your own genre.
Writing does not care if you meticulously plan your writing or if you write off the cuff. Writing does not care if your writing is merely a one-time effort or is something that has been edited umpteen times. Writing does not care if you write all day long or just on occasions when you are inspired.
Writing does not care why you write. Some people write because they are compelled to do so. Some people write to amuse others. Some people write to educate others. Some people write to tell their stories. There are as many reasons for writing as there are stars in the sky.
One of my daughter’s most treasured possessions is a 12-page, handwritten document written by her paternal grandmother. This grandmother was not a professional writer by any means. The document was never published anywhere, but the document’s purpose was not ever to seek publication. The purpose was to let all of her family members know information about her early life.
For the most part, the document would be of no interest to anyone outside of family. My daughter and I, however, were fascinated as we learned about the circumstances mentioned in the document about the woman’s early life with family. Who doesn’t wish that every family member might have created such a document before leaving this Earth?
Writing does not care if you have chosen it as a career or merely as a sideline. Writing does not care if you have a title for your profession in regard to writing, such as best-seller or editor or award-winning author.
Writing could not be more diplomatic. Writing does not care who calls themselves a writer, but there is one catch. The best way to aptly use the title of writer is to actually write. An old saying exists: "Writers write. Everyone else just talks about it."
