I loathe photos of me and I didn’t want to engage with the prompt. As a teen, I even went through a phase of tearing up photos of myself. It’s safer behind the camera which is why I’m the one taking photos at parties and things these days.
But there is one photo that has strayed into my mind recently.
I’ve been thinking about what it is to be a writer and how I’ve been writing since I could pick up a crayon. My husband said the other day that a writer is only a writer when they’re published, well he amended it to a real writer, because otherwise others would look down on you, ‘oh, you’re not published then?’. I was a little disheartened.
What do you think?
Maybe as we grow, we learn to become fearful of failure. Maybe as we grow, we learn to set harsh standards for ourselves. And maybe sadly, sometimes as we grow, we learn to value only material success.
Why do you write?
I remind myself that I write because it is how I express myself creatively, I need an outlet for all those crazy things fizzing around in my head. I remind myself that I write because I enjoy it.
And that takes me to the picture.
I am tiny, probably two, maybe pushing three. I have a fair tousled head and a muted fairisle jumper. I am sat on the kitchen window seat in the house that I grew up in at the bright varnished pine table. I am concentrating. I have rough paper in front of me and a pencil crayon in hand. I am a storyteller.
The world is my oyster and I can capture it all as I see fit by the magic I weave with a writing stick.
Some of that got lost along the way and I wish that I was still that child, bright minded and innocent and full of ideas, not scared of failure or other people’s opinions.
Everyone has a favorite photo of themself, whether it’s a childhood snapshot, a professional graduation or wedding photograph, or a close-up taken amongst friends. Some say a photograph steals the soul. This week, show us yours: take us into the moment that photograph was taken. Show us who you were then and what the photograph means.
I Spy with My Idiosyncratic Eye 
I love the picture! You were so cute!!
Aw, thank you. That’s all changed now don’t worry! ;)
YOU are a writer. Thanks for sharing :)
Aw, that’s very kind. Thank you for visiting. :)
First of all what a cute pic!
I know exactly what you mean when it comes to pictures of myself. It took a lot to put the picture up that I chose, cuz I look awful, but it told the best story!
I really love the way you wrote this; thank you for sharing it!
Thanks, the nightmare of pictures! Your picture and words conjured up such a powerful story. :)
I think to be published you need to be incredibly persistent. Yes, you should have some talent, but I have read quite a few books that I just scratch my head over when I’m done and wonder how they were published. Many great writers were rejected over and over and over again before someone deigned to publish their work. You are a terrific writer, and you could be published if you wanted to spend the time researching markets and being okay with rejection by people who may or may not recognize good writing when they see it, but I’m perfectly happy writing just for me (and maybe my blogging buddies!).
It is something of a conundrum isn’t it, do you have talent if you’re not published and yet being published doesn’t seem to necessarily be a guarantee of talent?! Thank you for visiting. :)
I think you have to have a passion for writing to be a good writer – and like with anything else, some people are lucky enough to get paid for their passion and some don’t. Most of us just do it because we have to, for whatever reason. I don’t think anything makes you a “real” or a “fake” writer. A writer is a writer. Maybe there is some distinction between a “professional” writer and a someone who is doing it as a hobby, but I think they’re both “real.”
And oh, it would be so nice to go back in time and tell myself Just go and do what you want! Don’t let anything stand in your way!
That seems to be the hardest lesson to learn in life doesn’t it? Thank you for sharing your views too. :)
I respectfully disagree with your husband, although I understand the point he was trying to make. A writer is a person who can take an abstract thought – whether it be an idea, a feeling or an entire storyline – and piece together words, sentences and paragraphs in a coherent, entertaining and precise manner and breathe life into that thought. A published writer is someone who has either honed that skill artfully enough to make a career out of it or been lucky enough to be discovered … or both.
You are a writer. Probably always have been.
Adorable picture, filled with sincerity.
I love this post.
Hehe, it’s fine, I just disrespectfully disagreed with him! What a great description, I must quote you! Thank you so much for your lovely words. :)