5 Ways To Know If You're A True Writer

Do you ever wonder if you were really meant to be a writer? Sometimes you get occasional or even frequent writer's block. Your words may not always make sense, and you misplace your manuscript from time to time. If this sounds like you, how can you know for sure if writing is a good fit for you?

Below, I have 5 ways to help you to determine whether you should stick with writing. You know you're a true writer if:

You find yourself jotting down new ideas on paper, napkins, your hand, or even furniture
(I suggest writing on something other than the furniture)

You write down the details in a meeting such as a work meeting or church function

You try hard to put the pen or pencil down, but you just can't

You become overly conscious of your spelling and grammar when you write

You find yourself writing when you should be working, cooking, or watching the kids

While some of these items are lighthearted and meant to make you chuckle, let's face it: A true writer actually writes! So if you call yourself a writer, do whatever you need to do in order to write and complete the work you've started.

Watch Out!

Have you ever been hit by a hard ball? I have. I was in elementary school, playing softball with my classmates one day. All of a sudden, the ball him me right in the top of my head.

Why didn’t anybody warn me and say, “Tiffany, watch out!”? As I reminisce on that day, I’m not sure if one of my classmates warned me or not. If they did, I still got hit. I’m not sure how long it took for me to get back up, either. Because of this traumatic event, one thing’s for sure: I vowed never to play softball again.

Writer, I’m warning you: Don’t get hit by the twins of wasted time and procrastination. These siblings will hinder your writing. Maybe you’re struggling right now with one or the other as you read this entry. If so, you can get back up and move on with your writing.

You can pick up your pen right now and:

• Write about how you feel
• Write down three places you would like to visit
• Write about your previous experiences, (your success, failures, happy and sad times)
• Write down three groups of people you can help with your writing
  

While this may not be the information you planned to write once you get your writing groove back, it is a start. Whatever you do, watch out and press on as you pursue your writing destiny!

One Size Doesn't Fit All!

Do you ever remember purchasing an outfit or an article of clothing labeled "One Size Fits All"?

You take the item home only to find out that you are not included in the "All." Maybe your arms are too long or maybe the robe is just a little too snug for you. It's disappointing to say the least.

What happens when you don't seem to fit the mold of the "typical writer"? Maybe you're not sure what direction to take, or maybe you're not apart of the writer's group everyone is raving about. To make things worse, you've just received a boatload of rejection letters for the manuscript you worked months to perfect. Because of these situations, you begin to question your ability to write and you wonder if you still need to write at all.

Wait! Before you close your laptop or retire that pen, understand that every writer has a different pathway. Take some time to ask yourself some questions, so you can reevaluate your situation.
Consider the following questions:

• Is this the best time for you to write?
• Are you writing in the proper genre?
• Do you have a specific target group who needs to read what you're writing?
• Are you passionate about what you're writing?
• Do you need to start with smaller projects?
• Have you had someone to edit your writing?

Now step back. It may take a few days to answer these questions about yourself. Once you've taken some time to answer these questions honestly, I'm sure you'll see the writer in you reemerging with a vengeance.

Just because one size doesn't fit all doesn't mean you can't keep searching until you find the right fit for your passion to write!