Are great writers made or born? I think it’s a combination of both. We’re all born with a gift. Whether it’s singing or dancing it’s in us from birth. What we do do nurture and grow those gifts is totally up to us. I think writing is the same way.  It took me some time to come out and call myself a writer. Don’t ask me why. It occurred to me that I had been writing for a living for over a decade, so why was I afraid to say it out loud? Well, I finally did. It felt good to own it. I think for a while I just thought that being a writer needed to be more glamorous. Silly me. I write for television. That’s pretty glam.

Writing for me has always been my outlet. I remember as a little girl, I would write songs. Those songs later turned into poems. I wrote books. I wrote just for the sake of writing. It was as if I had so much to say and the only way to get it out was to put pen to paper. I did that over and over again. I still do it. I’m a self proclaimed word nerd.

Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret. – Matthew Arnold

My love of writing has taken me back to school post college more than a few times. I clearly have a crush on the written word. It’s been going on for decades. I think it’s getting serious. I think I’m one of the lucky ones because I found my passion early on. Even though it took me some time to acknowledge it. My other passion is helping people follow theirs. I have this strong desire to see people do what it is they want to do. I want so badly to see other people live the life of their dreams. Am I crazy? Maybe.

So tell me, what’s your crazy passion?

*This was originally published by me on Studio 30 Plus*

What makes a writer? I have seen this question asked in some form or another a lot lately. I’ve even asked the question of myself. It wasn’t until recently that I began to see myself as a writer. I’m not sure why it took me so long to come to this conclusion. I have been writing for my paycheck for years. I think I started writing for a living back in ’99. Why then did it take 2012 for me to just say it?

I don’t know if I thought that I hadn’t done enough to justify the title or if I thought people would have a negative reaction. I’m really not sure what it was that made me uncomfortable with calling a spade, a spade – a writer, a writer. I think I always saw myself in the same shoes as the singer who waits tables. She’s singing at weddings and other events but she doesn’t have a deal yet. That doesn’t make her any less a singer, right?

For me, I’ve always been a writer plus something else. My titles have always been writer/editorial asst or writer/producer, etc. I’d just go with the latter and ignore the writer portion. It’s so odd because the writing part is the part I love. It’s the writing that I’ve wanted to do as long as I can remember. I should have always been more than happy to share it.

Well it doesn’t matter how long it took me to get here, I’m here. I’m proudly sharing my title, my passion, my love – I’m a writer and it’s awesome! It’s lessons like this that I’m glad I’m learning so that my kids don’t have to. No need to make yourself less than what you are for the acceptance of others. It took me too long to figure that out.

Am I the only one who’s ever felt like this? Have you ever been in denial about your talents/gifts? Share in the comments.