the craft. the identity of a writer | beliefs & influences.
Written by GG Renee Hill
“And, so, knowing why you create—figuring out your impulses and drives and motivations—and also becoming aware of your creativity-killing fears and attitudes can make all the difference between giving up and doing the imaginative work you want to do in the world." — Meta Wagner, What’s Your Creative Type?
You are a writer. Is it hard for you to own that? It’s true—whether you are published or not, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional. Every writer starts somewhere, and every writer has a special journey ahead of them. Your writing journey doesn’t have to follow a specific course for you to believe that your adventure is valid. Have you allowed yourself to imagine all the places that writing could take you? Writing is a journey of self-discovery, after all.
We need to understand our reasons for taking this journey, so we can be consciously aware of why it's worth the effort. This is so important because our lives are already full of roles and responsibilities that seem more urgent and are often more validated by others.
Humans are driven by need. So we can learn a lot about our intrinsic and extrinsic motivations by being honest with ourselves about what needs we expect writing to fulfill for us. One way to take stock is through the lens of authentic and artificial needs.
An artificial need is something you desire to satisfy your ego. If it has anything to do with acceptance, validation, reward or external power of any kind, it is an artificial need. A desire to prove yourself or your worth or your talent. Artificial needs for writing might be to win awards, to get attention, to feel important, to prove something or to elevate your feeling of significance in the world.
An authentic need is something you desire to feed your soul. Think values. Think callings. When we satisfy our authentic needs, we put ourselves in alignment with our inner power which expands our creative possibilities. Authentic needs for writing may include deepening your connection to the divine, healing wounds and traumas, or dreaming up stories that you feel called to share with the world.
When you are honest with yourself about your needs and motivations, this awareness forms the foundation of your writing practice. When discipline fails, your authentic reasons don't go away. They persist.
Owning your identity as a writer may cause some dissonance or imposter syndrome based on your experiences earlier in life. I can help with that. At the end of this post, there is a powerful exercise that will provide evidence of your identity as a writer, reconnect you to your inner artist, and give you a renewed outlook on your creative possibilities.
But first, let’s make one thing clear. Your identity as a writer does not need to be validated by social proof. Your writer identity is validated by the steps you take to align with it. Writers write their way through life. Writers write to know what they’re thinking, to communicate what they care about, to express their inner visions. And yes, all writers struggle at one point or another to find their voices and get words on the page.
Many of us have our creative confidence battered and bruised by our families, schools, jobs, relationships, cultures, and society-at-large. Maybe you were told that you’re not creative, that making art is not a real career, or that creative writing is an indulgence or waste of time. When you are aware of the beliefs, attitudes, and influences that have shaped your creative journey, you can see how these factors influence the energy you are bringing into your current endeavors.
For the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing tools for creative courage and resilience, addressing the inner work that we must do to be resilient through the ups and downs of the journey. Think about it. We are baring our souls, revealing the deepest parts of ourselves, subjecting ourselves to repeated rejections, and perhaps little to no external reward at times. Without self-care and a clear understanding of your intrinsic motivation, you will burn out or become disillusioned quickly. Without a genuine desire to get something more out of it than external recognition, your work will not be as satisfying and it won’t be sustainable.
To affirm your writer identity and reconnect with your inner artist, reflect on the timeline of your journey as a writer, from childhood until now. Feel free to format your timeline in your own way. You can use a bulleted list, or draw a timeline on a piece of paper and map out key touchpoints and pivots in your life. You want to write down any meaningful moments, seasons, and milestones related to writing that stand out in your memory. Be as detailed or as general as you like. Make a note of the narratives and mindsets that were influencing you through each season. You can view how I did this exercise here.
This exercise will help you look back and see how your interests, outlets, and motivations have evolved. When you’re done and you see how writing has woven its way through your life, you will have all the evidence you need to affirm your identity as a writer and to envision your direction for the next season of your journey. Every writer starts somewhere, and it’s up to each writer to look within to find the reasons to keep going.
GG Renee Hill is an author, creative coach, and workshop facilitator who helps others discover and express their truths through writing. She facilitates transformative workshops that show individuals, groups, and organizations how to overcome creative blocks and reframe their stories. Through her offerings, she centers writing as a tool for all forms of creative expression, as she creates safe spaces for others to own their voices and callings. Her essays about mental health and personal transformation have been featured by Shondaland.com and Thrive Global.Her recent published works include two guided journals through Rockridge Press: Self-Care Check-In (2020) and A Year of Self-Reflection (2021).When she's not working with clients and facilitating workshops, she's working on a book of essays about self-discovery and reclaiming your story.
Writing/Job Opportunities
Emma Barker is looking for a freelance editor who's knowledgeable about business/tech to help with pitching, assigning, and editing a TIME project from August-November 2023! emma.barker@time.com
The Rumpus is accepting essay submissions. (Aug. 2)
Long Reads is accepting essay submissions. For essays, they’re looking for drafts with a unique voice on unusual or unexpected topics. Check out their features to get a sense of what they publish. They’re looking for compelling stories with a strong narrative. Base rate is $500 USD. For reported essays, critical essays, and columns, rates start at $500. The fee varies depending on the level of reporting and research required, as well as the overall word count.
Complex is hiring a Pop Culture Staff Writer for a hybrid role. $35/hr. (6 months)
UCLA is hiring a Creative Writing Instructor. $73/instructional hours.
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